DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
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DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
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Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#2Begin the off-base analogies.
Is the government's whole case dependent on the hypothetical contents of her laptop?
I have to disagree with the Obama adminsitration's stance on this, and other "electronic" civil liberty positions.
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#3Does it matter? Governments are bullies.
http://www.vvsss.com/grid/xkcd-on-crypto.gif
Here in the UK, we already have to hand over our keys or be chucked in jail.
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#4It is cases like this that makes me glad to donate to EFF.
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#5The truly interesting bit, will be when a case of (real or alleged) multiple hidden encrypted volumes is publicized.
If the government feels the information they want is on a laptop, the laptop's owner would suddenly find themselves forced to prove a negative (there are no more hidden volumes), lest they be held in contempt.
If they can seemingly compel you to reveal something they can't proven even exists and lock you up until you can prove that it doesn't, the door for abuses isn't even wide open; it'll have been removed from its hinges along with most of the wall.
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#6It's easy to see why you wouldn't want someone to decrypt your laptop.
What about Bernie Madoff? Wouldn't you be furious if all data produced by a corrupt hedge fund manager was encrypted? Wouldn't you want the DOJ to be able to hold them in contempt of court? If you hamstring your government, you aren't allowed to complain that it is ineffective.
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#7Does it matter? Governments are bullies. http://www.vvsss.com/grid/xkcd-on-crypto.gif Here in the UK, we already have to hand over our keys or be chucked in jail.
Original XKCD page, for posterity:
And a direct image link from XKCD:
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#8Does it matter? Governments are bullies. http://www.vvsss.com/grid/xkcd-on-crypto.gif Here in the UK, we already have to hand over our keys or be chucked in jail.
Is there any reason you linked to a third-party site instead of xkcd itself?
http://xkcd.com/538/ (easily googled -- xkcd crypto, first hit.)
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#9It's easy to see why you wouldn't want someone to decrypt your laptop. What about Bernie Madoff? Wouldn't you be furious if all data produced by a corrupt hedge fund manager was encrypted? Wouldn't you want the DOJ to be able to hold them in contempt of court? If you hamstring your government, you aren't allowed to complain that it is ineffective.
"The trouble with fighting for human freedom is that one spends most of one's time defending scoundrels. For it is against scoundrels that oppressive laws are first aimed, and oppression must be stopped at the beginning if it is to be stopped at all." -- H.L.Mencken
Re: DOJ: We can force you to decrypt that laptop
#10It's easy to see why you wouldn't want someone to decrypt your laptop. What about Bernie Madoff? Wouldn't you be furious if all data produced by a corrupt hedge fund manager was encrypted? Wouldn't you want the DOJ to be able to hold them in contempt of court? If you hamstring your government, you aren't allowed to complain that it is ineffective.
These protections extend to everyone, no matter how despicable.
In order for good people to be free, some bad guys might also get away. Such is the price of a free society.