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British Police Demand Access To Encryption Keys

Posted by Zonk on from the among-other-things dept.

flip-flop writes "In the wake of recent terrorist attacks, police here in the UK have asked for sweeping new powers they claim will help them counter the threat. Among these is making it a criminal offense for people to refuse disclosing their encryption keys when the police want to access someone's files." From the article: "The most controversial of the police proposals is the demand to be able to hold without charge a terrorist suspect for three months instead of 14 days. An Acpo spokesman said the complexity and scale of counter-terrorist operations means the 14-day maximum is often insufficient."

12 of 814 comments (clear)

  1. Encryption Keys? by Taevin · · Score: 5, Informative

    Fortunately we have things like StegFS. But I really shouldn't be disclosing such information, some people in the govA*$%#)D$@#$NO CARRIER

  2. Already an offense? by moderators_are_w*nke · · Score: 5, Informative

    I was pretty sure that the regulation of investigatory powers act (1998?) already made it an offense to refuse to disclose an encryption key?

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    1. Re:Already an offense? by Thwomp · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yeah, that was my immediate thought also. The RIP act was actually past in 2000.

      One interesting point I remember from it was that if you were no longer in possession of the key then you had to prove you didn't have it. In other words proving a negative! Besides, I'm sure any criminal wouldn't disclose the keys and take a shorter prison sentence if what they were encrypting was more damaging.

      I'd advise anybody working in the computing profession, in the U.K., to be aware of this law and others.

  3. It's already an offense by Albanach · · Score: 4, Informative
    I'm not sure why they would demand the right to access encryption keys when they already appear to have the power through Section III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act Link here.

  4. Re:Encryption key by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative
    66 75 63 6B 20 6F 66 66
    F U C K O F F
    Just to see how bad I get moded for this.
  5. Re:Oh yeah, that's why we threw their tea away by kailoran · · Score: 3, Informative

    The Brits don't have a constitution. Yes you can live without one.

  6. Re:Won't be long now by j0e_average · · Score: 2, Informative

    Actually the UK version of the PATRIOT act:

    Reducing Everyone's Defensibility by Collectively Obstructing and Abating Terrorism

  7. Re:demand encryption keys ? *yawn* by brpr · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes, you do not have a right to remain silent in court. Although in the US you do of course have a right not to say anything which incriminates you.

    --
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  8. Re:Oh yeah, that's why we threw their tea away by trewornan · · Score: 2, Informative
    OK, I'm not a lawyer either, but it's important that people know exactly how this law works.

    a) When you're arrested the Officer will say "it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned something which you later come to rely on in court". Note the part in bold - when questioned means when you are in a police interview room being tape recorded, not standing in the street talking to some moron in a blue uniform. Coppers will often hope to bluff you with this.

    b) If you request a solicitor the police are not allowed to question you until you've seen one.

    c) When you do see a solicitor all you have to do is persuade him to agree that it would be a good idea not to say anything you don't have to. Then you can answer questions with "on the advice of my legal counsel I have no comment to make at this time".

    d) It's almost impossible for a prosecuting lawyer to make anything out of a statement like the above in court.

    e) If the police have sufficient evidence to support a case against you they are required by law to stop questioning you. Conversely - if they're questioning you then you know the case against you is iffy. Consequently you're onto a winner as long as you keep your mouth shut.

  9. Re:Guantanamo Bay? by cstacy · · Score: 2, Informative
    "Innocent until proven guilty. Although that statement is ignored just as often in the US as it is in England, laws that we pass try to at least give the impression that we respect it."
    umm, Guantanamo Bay?
    Guantanamo Bay is where we are holding certain people who we captured during a war, people who were violating the rules of war (and thus not even part of the Geneva Convention). But the subject of this discussion is about citizens being arrested and held in their own country. Which US citizens are in Guantanamo Bay?
  10. Re:Is it possible to build in a decoy? by SuiteSisterMary · · Score: 2, Informative

    You're asking about 'rubber hose encryption.' Google for it.

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  11. Sunset: May 26, 2005 by MacDork · · Score: 3, Informative

    It was.