Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

theguardian.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

161–170 of 241 posts

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#161

Post by carlmr »

ericbarrett wrote: post #129
negidius wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The stress of being arrested and threatened with years in prison if you don't remember your passcode could very well cause someone to forget it.

A few weeks ago my house sprang a massive leak in the roof during a rainstorm, just as I was preparing for a week-long business trip. I got so stressed, the next morning I forgot the passcode I'd been typing into my iPhone for the last five years. Three days of carefully writing down my attempts didn't work—I hit the ten-mistake limit and the phone auto-wiped.

Especially that. I forgot my pin once in a stressful situation as well, and that wiped my brain.

I ordered a new SIM card which was luckily enough. But sometimes you store something in muscle memory, not number memory.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#162

Post by toyg »

kevviiinn wrote: post #116
blibble wrote: post #66

Earlier quoted context omitted.

and the RIP Act was passed by a Labour government (and the Terrorism Act)

From what I've heard, the UK Labour party does absolutely nothing for labor. They're turning into the US democrats

It's not that "they're turning", it already happened. Tony Blair and Bill Clinton shared political platforms almost precisely.

A recent effort to go "back to their roots" (the Corbyn years) ended with a stalinesque purge of such leader. Sadly this leaves free reign for upstart neonazi and neonazi-adjacent parties (BNP, UKIP, Brexit Party/Reform UK...) to rip through traditional Lab heartlands.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#163

Post by toyg »

FridayoLeary wrote: post #55
cm2187 wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The absence of a strong constitution protecting fundamental rights is also an issue. With a 50%+1 majority, the house of commons can vote pretty much any law it wants with no counterpower.

While in theory you are correct the reality is somewhat different. Individual mps are beholden to their local party and would hesitate to vote on anything that may endanger their position. Backbenchers have brought down 3 successive governments. There also exists an upper chamber and a high court to appeal to. It's mostly a pretty stable system.

Individual MPs are not selected by local parties anymore, that ship sailed 30 years ago. Parachuting chums in safe seats it's been the accepted norm since (at least) Blair. Backbenchers do what they do because they're fighting among themselves, organized in gangs (sorry, "think-tanks" or "research groups") to bolster their own career opportunities.

There is no upper chamber that I know of (the Lords is legislatively dead, a strong government can simply ignore it), and the powers of the High Court, already diminished by recent reforms, are likely to be further curtailed very soon (read the tea leaves: the debate on "abusing judicial procedures to make law", once the remit of right-wing Americans, was the subject for an entire Reith Lecture cycle only a couple of years ago; after the Brexit saga, Tories will take an axe to the HC as soon as they can afford to do so).

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#164

Post by TeaDude »

midoridensha wrote: post #139
kspacewalk2 wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Many many countries have rules against drawing adverse inferences from silence, including event Scotland, which is part of the UK.

Scotland really should leave the UK, and then rejoin the EU. They'd be better off.

They also have apecific devolved laws that you can be arrested for illegal speech in your own home and your children can be interrogated about it.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#165

Post by fuzzybear3965 »

TulliusCicero wrote: post #108
CaliforniaKarl wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

abridgett didn't check after posting, and so didn't catch some weird formatting. They are making two separate points: - the onus is on _you_ to "prove" that you don't know it or have forgotten it - you can be told not to reveal that you've told them the password

But...how would you prove you've forgotten something?

If you figure that out then let me know. Seems impossible to me. Maybe when brain scanning technology advances they'll be able to know what you're thinking.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#166

Post by Paul-Craft »

flangola7 wrote: post #145
barney54 wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You say nothing about the alleged crime and instead ask for an attorney. Remember this important advice—shut the fuck up. https://youtu.be/sgWHrkDX35o

That video is about US law. The above comment says shutting the fuck up can be used as a negative inference against you in court.

Not if you get a lawyer, because as soon as your lawyer shows up, they say "My client invokes his/her right to remain silent."

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#167

Post by TeaDude »

psychphysic wrote: post #154
robswc wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems its quite easy to get arrested for posting stuff online too. I hardly ever agree with the content but scares me to see people getting arrested for what amount to opinions.

Yes, and good luck if you're ever unfortunate enough to be physically harmed. Even rape victims are demanded to hand over their phone before a case can proceed. Because of course the alleged perpetrator (rightly) refuses to, delete even unrelated stuff before handing over? Case dropped anyways.

Implying the police actually turn up? Remember that those are the "lucky" ones.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#168

Post by sph »

helaoban wrote: post #36

Totally totally insane. A revolution is coming, and it will be bloody.

Until the masses have Netflix, Pornhub and TikTok, nothing will ever happen.

It's easier to hide under the covers and doomscrool than go out and throw a brick.

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#169

Post by robocat »

zarzavat wrote: post #134
robocat wrote: post #104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the few arab countries i’ve visited I would expect citizens of Arab countries are treated very differently from visitors .

In which direction? Some countries are more suspicious of outsiders and give their citizens an easier time. Other countries are more fearful of the threat within and couldn’t care less what some random tourist is doing.

Most Arab countries have a lot of immigrant labour (e.g. UAE 90%), and if you are on the receiving end of their legal system I can’t see why they would treat you much better than say a poor immigrant. Even if white, I am not sure you would get any privilege points, and instead it might work against you (think English chavs or German dicks in Majorca).

In most countries I have visited, visitors get away with a lot, because they want tourists, and because the tourists are relatively wealthy. In the UAE you are relatively poor compared to the citizens.

Relevant in New Zealand a few years ago: https://google.com/search?q=british%20gypsies%20%22new%20zea...

Re: French publisher arrested in London for refusal to tell police his passcodes

#170

Post by Paul-Craft »

1letterunixname wrote: post #120
macinjosh wrote: post #7

Western democracies are falling into authoritarian behavior at a remarkable rate. I am legit worried.

It has a specific name: inverted totalitarianism.

Yep.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inverted_totalitarianism

Post reply on HN