Slashdot Mirror
ACLU: Lavabit Was 'Fatally Undermined' By Demands For Encryption Keys
An anonymous reader writes "When encrypted email provider Lavabit shut down in August, it was because U.S. authorities demanded the company release encryption keys to get access to certain accounts. Lavabit's founder, Ladar Levison, is facing contempt of court charges for his refusal to acquiesce to their demands. But now the ACLU has filed a 'friend of the court' brief (PDF) in support of Levison, saying that the government's demand 'fatally undermined' the secure email service. 'Lavabit's business was predicated on offering a secure email service, and no company could possible tell its clients that it offers a secure service if its keys have been handed over to the government.' The ACLU added, 'The district court's contempt holding should be reversed, because the underlying orders requiring Lavabit to disclose its private keys imposed an unreasonable burden on the company. Although innocent third parties have a duty to assist law enforcement agents in their investigations, they also have a right not to be compelled "to render assistance without limitation regardless of the burden involved."' Lavabit is also defending itself by claiming a violation of the 4th amendment has occurred."
"The due process involved in getting a valid warrant has been stripped of most of its teeth.. Cops can now get warrants over the phone in a matter of minutes. "
I don't know where you live, but that sure as hell is NOT the case here. A warrant has to be typed up, and literally signed by a judge, in his/her own handwriting. No rubber stamp allowed. If cops around here try to enter a home without a SIGNED warrant, they are likely to get shot dead.