UK Government Can Demand You Hand Over Encryption Keys

iminplaya writes "The UK government can now demand that citizens hand over their data encryption keys - or face jailtime for obstructing justice. The law only applies to data on UK shores, and doesn't cover information transmitted via UK servers across the internet. 'The law also allows authorities to compel individuals targeted in such investigation to keep silent about their role in decrypting data ... The Home Office has steadfastly proclaimed that the law is aimed at catching terrorists, pedophiles, and hardened criminals--all parties which the UK government contends are rather adept at using encryption to cover up their activities.'"

Comments

hmm

[pak9rabid]

I guess when wire-tapping and CCTV just isn't enough

Its very important that we all do this.

[TechnoBunny]

Unless we let the government have access to all our data then the terrorismists will WIN.

After all, if you've nothing to hide then whats the problem? I for one will be printing out all of my data in hardcopy to send to the government, as I am a PATRIOT.

After all - there was no terrorismisticals before the internet.

Re:Its very important that we all do this.

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm sure they'll appreciate all the porn :)

Re:Its very important that we all do this.

[UbuntuDupe]

Hm, I generally go with: "Oh, you don't need the key; just factor the semiprime. What, you bad at math or something?"

Re:Its very important that we all do this.

[Sergeant Pepper]

The internet was designed to be a durable, scalable, decentralized information delivery system so that, in the event of a nuclear attack, American military leaders would still have access to pornography.

Re:Three Words

[cryptoguy]

When they outlaw hidden volumes, only outlaws will have hidden volumes.

Here is my key...

[Anonymous Coward]

... "it is Pi to 10 billion places"

Wake me up 3 life times form now , when you are done inputting the key passphrase.

Re:Three Words

[Woy]

Much better than facing the same situation with no hidden volumes.

What about DRM encryption

[dmahurin]

So the media companies have to hand over the specs and keys to the HD or BlueRay DRM encryption? (Otherwise, they could be hiding secret information on the discs to overthrow the government.)

Re:Truecrypt

[soulsteal]

Of course, if you admit or in other ways make it provable that there exist an inner volume then all bets are off ;-)

My God, it's brilliant. A matryoshka-doll-like layered encryption scheme full of porn!

"evil"

[deesine]

No need for the sneer quotes, unless you are a nanny-stater who condones this type of governmental intrusiveness.

"This aspect of the law is routinely ignored on Slashdot to try and enhance the "evil" reputation of the law."

I think the law, just on a general level, earns its evil reputation well enough. So they used a condom, but they still buggered you.

Re:Hand the keys over

[Prof.Phreak]

...they are allowed to break the lock. They can't do that with thoughts in your head.

I'd imagine that depends on the punishment (and whether they can get away with it or not)---they can certainly break your head, just as easily as they break locks.