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

Re:Meh

[kevin.fowler]

Or a false key that causes the tape to self destruct.

I'll get you, Gadget.

The difference between UK and US

[Tiger4]

In the UK, the rights of the people are what the Parliament decides. Tradition is what holds them back from being tyrants. Unwritten constitution and all that.

In the US, the rights of the people are written into the Constitution and it explicitly says there might be more. Traditionally, Congress ignores this and runs wherever the political wind blows them. They wait for the courts to save them, or for the political winds to shift again.

Either way, the only real saving grace is staying engaged politically. Keep the politicians from stealing everything you have in an effort to save it for you. There are still people who think that freedom is too precious to be given to the people they are protecting it for. Damn.

Re:hidden volumes

[Library Spoff]

That's why I've got Gay Pron on my hidden volume.
Yeah - that's right i'm gay, it's my secret...