British Police Demand Access To Encryption Keys

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."

Comments

Encryption Keys?

[Taevin]

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

Already an offense?

[moderators_are_w*nke]

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

Re:Already an offense?

[Thwomp]

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.

It's already an offense

[Albanach]

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.

Re:Oh yeah, that's why we threw their tea away

[kailoran]

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

Sunset: May 26, 2005

[MacDork]

It was.