Re:UK Home Secretary says encryption on messaging services i...
by peterwwillis on Sunday March 26, 2017 @01:22PM
(#13961834)
They wouldn't prevent you from making encryption apps. It would be about regulation. You can regulate kinds of encryption (the strength of the algorithms/keyspace etc), and you can regulate who can use it (licensed copies only, or specific businesses only, or types of businesses, non-messaging platforms only, etc).
Then there's how you use it. They could mandate all of X businesses could only use encryption that could be inspected by the state, so either weak encryption, or PKI where you send the government your site's private key or use the state's CA or something. They can also mandate backdoors in encryption used in certain ways. And they can mandate that weak encryption be used outside their country's borders.
All of these are real parts of US laws on cryptography from WWII to 2000 to prevent "export" of "strong encryption", because of course evildoers around the world might make use of these "munitions". US law still regulates how we can use or distribute cryptography around the world. It is illegal in the US to release open source crypto on the internet without notifying the Bureau of Industry and Security. And 41 other countries (including the UK) have similar laws.
The one thing the US has going for it is the 1st Amendment, which makes it illegal for the US to prevent its citizens from making or using crypto within the US.
Then there's how you use it. They could mandate all of X businesses could only use encryption that could be inspected by the state, so either weak encryption, or PKI where you send the government your site's private key or use the state's CA or something. They can also mandate backdoors in encryption used in certain ways. And they can mandate that weak encryption be used outside their country's borders.
All of these are real parts of US laws on cryptography from WWII to 2000 to prevent "export" of "strong encryption", because of course evildoers around the world might make use of these "munitions". US law still regulates how we can use or distribute cryptography around the world. It is illegal in the US to release open source crypto on the internet without notifying the Bureau of Industry and Security. And 41 other countries (including the UK) have similar laws.
The one thing the US has going for it is the 1st Amendment, which makes it illegal for the US to prevent its citizens from making or using crypto within the US.