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IANAL but I think in the UK if they even suspect you of giving them a fake password (and yes, they do have tech guys who probably read HN as well), they'll go f

IANAL but I think in the UK if they even suspect you of giving them a fake password (and yes, they do have tech guys who probably read HN as well), they'll go for you anyway. Whether they'd make it stick if the fake data is convincing enough is a different matter.

lucb1e 14y ago
I'm not sure what you mean by "they'll go for you anyway", but there is no way to know whether you gave them a real password/key. It might actually be the real one.
- polymatter 14y ago
  Presumably they already have something implicating that you would have data they need. Testimony or something. If you give them an innocous password, they make a judgement on whether its they real password. If they think there is an even more real password they just keep asking you for the real password under threat of jail time.
  - alan_cx 14y ago
    That "something" is the most scary and dangerous bit. It might be something the government want to keep secret, but can be used secretly as evidence in a hidden court session. So you will never ever be able to find out why they think you are lying and never ever have the chance to defend yourself or prove their evidence wrong. Hell, you cant even verify it reasonably exists. AFAIK, the only safeguard we have left in the UK are judges, and thus far they are not politically appointed like they are in say the US.
- nicholassmith 14y ago
  Colloquial British, basically prosecute you to the full extent of the law. They do employ some relatively smart computer forensics guys, they'll be able to look at it and go "Well this is an image file, but the file size data is off, so what's being hidden", and the assumption will be the password isn't the right one. Like I said, they'll take it to trial, but whether they can make it stick is a different matter.
stef25 14y ago
From what I can tell you're not giving them a fake password, in this scenario. You give them a real password with access to pictures of your naked wife, while you're actually using the tool to encrypt child porn with a second password. Isn't that how it could be used?
- lucb1e 14y ago
  Yes, that's right

lucb1e 14y ago

I'm not sure what you mean by "they'll go for you anyway", but there is no way to know whether you gave them a real password/key. It might actually be the real one.

polymatter 14y ago
Presumably they already have something implicating that you would have data they need. Testimony or something. If you give them an innocous password, they make a judgement on whether its they real password. If they think there is an even more real password they just keep asking you for the real password under threat of jail time.
- alan_cx 14y ago
  That "something" is the most scary and dangerous bit. It might be something the government want to keep secret, but can be used secretly as evidence in a hidden court session. So you will never ever be able to find out why they think you are lying and never ever have the chance to defend yourself or prove their evidence wrong. Hell, you cant even verify it reasonably exists. AFAIK, the only safeguard we have left in the UK are judges, and thus far they are not politically appointed like they are in say the US.
nicholassmith 14y ago
Colloquial British, basically prosecute you to the full extent of the law. They do employ some relatively smart computer forensics guys, they'll be able to look at it and go "Well this is an image file, but the file size data is off, so what's being hidden", and the assumption will be the password isn't the right one. Like I said, they'll take it to trial, but whether they can make it stick is a different matter.

stef25 14y ago

From what I can tell you're not giving them a fake password, in this scenario. You give them a real password with access to pictures of your naked wife, while you're actually using the tool to encrypt child porn with a second password. Isn't that how it could be used?

lucb1e 14y ago
Yes, that's right