In UK, Two Convicted of Refusing To Decrypt Data

ACKyushu clues us to recent news out of the UK, where two people have been successfully prosecuted for refusing to provide authorities with their encryption keys, resulting in landmark convictions that may have carried jail sentences of up to five years. There is uncertainty in that the names of the people convicted were not released; and without those names, the Crown Prosecution Service said it was unable to track down details of the cases. "Failure to comply with a section 49 notice carries a sentence of up to two years jail plus fines. Failure to comply during a national security investigation carries up to five years jail. ... Of the 15 individuals served, 11 did not comply with the notices. Of the 11, seven were charged and two convicted. Sir Christopher [Rose, the government's Chief Surveillance Commissioner] did not report whether prosecutions failed or are pending against the five charged but not convicted in the period covered by his report."

Comments

Re:That's rich

[L4t3r4lu5]

If the names are stored in an encrypted database, we have them by the balls!

Oh, wait, this is the government. It's probably currently being mailed Second Class to a royal heir in Nigeria.

Re:What I want

[vrai]

The police have killed about 1,000 people (in car crashes, shooting incidents, or death in custardy)

Beware citizens of the UK, no organisation that can inflict a custardy death should be trifled with.

Re:The logic is obvious

[fracai]

There is actually a series problem with animal rights extremists in the UK.

Perhaps they should be tried in parallel? It would certainly speed up the process.

Re:The logic is obvious

[binaryseraph]

If it was animal rights activits, they should have just eaten hamburgers infront of them. That will get the password out quick... Then again, that might also count as torture. "burger-boarding"

This is my password for TC...

[d474]

(my password: "ForThe100thTimeFuckYouIWillNotTellYouMyPasswordEver")

British Police: "Tell us your password."
Me: "For the 100th time, fuck you, I will not tell you my password ever."
British Police: "Oh, you want to be cheeky? Tell us your password or you're going to prison!"
Me: "For the 100th time, fuck you, I will not tell you my password ever."
British Police: "This is a matter of bloody national security, you'll get 5 years!"
Me: "For the 100th time, fuck you, I will not tell you my password ever."
British Police: "He refuses to submit, send him to jail!"
Me: "Great, I'll see you in court. You recorded that conversation, right?"
British Police: ???