[pchelpers] News:Refusal to provide encryption key to earn five years in jail

3 October 2007

Antony Savvas, Computer Weekly

Users of encryption technology can no longer refuse to reveal keys to UK
authorities after amendments to the powers of the state to intercept
communications took effect this week, reports legal website out-law.com.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) has had a clause
activated which allows a person to be compelled to reveal a decryption
key. Refusal can earn someone a five-year jail term.

Part III of RIPA was in the original act but was not activated. The Home
Office said last year that it had not implemented the provision because
encryption had not been as popular as quickly as it had predicted. 

It launched a consultation which culminated in Part III being made
active on 1 October.

The measure has been criticised by civil liberties activists and
security experts who say that the move erodes privacy and could lead a
person to be forced to incriminate themselves.

More here:
http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/071003_ripa_cw.html
-- 
John Durham
Site http://modecideas.com
Server hosted on Ubuntu 4.10
Good advice is like good paint. It only works when applied.



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