3 ms·
Well, the UK can lock you up until you give them your passwords. That method usually works pretty well for nation states.
by kelnos 2y ago
Well, the UK can lock you up until you give them your passwords. That method usually works pretty well for nation states.
- zombot 2y agoDoes that mean that all encryption is now illegal in the UK, even for foreign citizens?
- zipy124 2y agowitholding your password or encryption keys has been illegal since 2000 in the uk under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 , and by section 53 refusal can lead to 2 to 5 years in prison.
- desas 2y agoNot at all. It means that the UK police can compel you to turn over your decryption keys if it is deemed necessary and proportionate to prevent or investigate a crime.
- zombot 2y agoWhich makes the requested backdoor completely frivolous and something only criminals would need.
- ivan_gammel 2y agoCan they do it now or they may/are expected to pass the necessary legislation for that?
- rich_sasha 2y agoI guess what OP meant is, the court can compel you to do so - and yes, already. Basically the court can compel you to provide any information it needs in the course of legal proceedings, and until you do, fine and/or imprison you indefinitely. But, you know, there must be legal proceedings, the court must be satisfied that the information is necessary, etc. The guy at the border can't do that, on their own initiative. But of course, they can just not let you in.
- ivan_gammel 2y agoWell, if a court has to decide that, this is good enough for the balance between privacy and the interests of society. If they don't let me in based on my refusal but I'm free to return where I came from, it is also fine.
- zipy124 2y agowitholding your password or encryption keys has been illegal since 2000 in the uk under section 49 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 , and by section 53 refusal can lead to 2 to 5 years in prison.
- ivan_gammel 2y agoIs it illegal in response to police request (i.e. immediately, no justification needed) or in response to the request of the court (where due process was followed)? Edit: does it apply to border guards too?
- zipy124 2y agoIt has to be in writing, and given a time-frame, but the police are authorised to write such a note, as is the border force, the NCA and I think HMRC as well technically. There are cases of people being prosecuted under it [1], [2], [3] [1] https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/cage-muhammad-rabbani-anti-terrorism-law-passwords-refuse-police-london-heathrow-airport-a7742611.html https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/cage-muhammad-rabbani-ant... [2] https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/drug-suspect-jailed-refusing-give-11136172 https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/drug-sus... [3] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/facebook-password-jail-police-lucy-mchugh-prison-sentence-latest-southampton-a8516471.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/facebook-passwor...
- ivan_gammel 2y agoIn those cases people were subjects of investigation and there was a really good reason to demand the keys. It isn’t abuse of power by law enforcement and it’s very far from random border checks or stops where law enforcement was looking for something incriminating rather than conducting an investigation. And of course it is not the same as making encryption illegal (which would allow mass surveillance).
- zipy124 2y ago
- card_zero 2y agoWhy "nation state"? It isn't one. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_state https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multinational_state
- kennysoona 2y agoIt is a nation state, even the UK Office for National Statistics describes it as such. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland retain the term country or nation for historical identity reasons, not contemporary practical or relevant reasons.