Question

Which reason best supports Zimmermann’s claim in The Code Book that "cryptography is about political power”?

Governments use cryptography to protect classified information from being leaked to the public.
Politicians use cryptography to send messages to each other about new legislation.
Cryptography allows individuals to protect their freedom of speech in a healthy democracy.
For thousands of years, governments and leaders of civilizations have used various forms of cryptography.

Answer 1

Cryptography allows individuals to protect their freedom of speech in a healthy democracy.

Reason: Zimmermann’s point is about who holds power — cryptography shifts the balance by letting citizens communicate and protect dissenting views from state surveillance and control, so it directly ties cryptography to political power struggles.