He seemed predisposed or prepared for me to say no.
I am more inclined to side with the author in this situation. As you stated, the encryption algorithms are public, very well-known algorithms and the source code should reveal nothing, and the NSA employee asked to see the source code. The agent proved himself as reputable, and he did not demand to see the source code. All he did was ask for help in a matter of national security.
Ask yourself this: if a government agency asked for help in a matter of national security that wasn't about encryption would you help them? For a contrived example, say the FBI showed up and said there was a bomb buried under your house. They could dig to it from the street, or get to it much faster by digging to it from your basement. I think you'd be inclined to let them dig through your basement.
Also, keep in mind that what the NSA asked of the author is not the same as what they asked of Apple. They simply wanted to see the source code for an encryption algorithm here, but they were asking Apply to modify their code and add a backdoor that only the NSA could use. Again, going back to the contrived example, that is more akin to agreeing to let a government agent to live in your basement, so that they are ready to defuse a bomb should one be found. Completely different situation.
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From the article:
I am more inclined to side with the author in this situation. As you stated, the encryption algorithms are public, very well-known algorithms and the source code should reveal nothing, and the NSA employee asked to see the source code. The agent proved himself as reputable, and he did not demand to see the source code. All he did was ask for help in a matter of national security.
Ask yourself this: if a government agency asked for help in a matter of national security that wasn't about encryption would you help them? For a contrived example, say the FBI showed up and said there was a bomb buried under your house. They could dig to it from the street, or get to it much faster by digging to it from your basement. I think you'd be inclined to let them dig through your basement.
Also, keep in mind that what the NSA asked of the author is not the same as what they asked of Apple. They simply wanted to see the source code for an encryption algorithm here, but they were asking Apply to modify their code and add a backdoor that only the NSA could use. Again, going back to the contrived example, that is more akin to agreeing to let a government agent to live in your basement, so that they are ready to defuse a bomb should one be found. Completely different situation.