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UK Government unveils crypto escrow legislation

2 expanded posts ยท every known parent and child

NODE c7149a86UK Government unveils crypto escrow legislation
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 15:38:10 +0100
From: Malcolm Hutty <cacib@liberty.org.uk>
To: declan@well.com
Subject: UK Government unveils crypto escrow legislation

The UK government has announced legislation designed to force 
escrow of confidentiality keys on UK netizens.

They are planning a licenced system of Certificate Authorities in an 
attempt to force key escrow down the throats of British computer 
users. This could be a model for other governments. The idea is 
that digital signatures get preferential legal treatment if certified by 
a licenced CA, but to get a licence you must escrow confidentiality 
keys.  

The licensing authority will be OFTEL, the telecoms regulator.

You may want to check out this link for full details
http://omnisite.liberty.org.uk/cacib/

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NODE ea82e33fRe: UK Government unveils crypto escrow legislation
>Date: Thu, 22 Oct 1998 15:38:10 +0100
>From: Malcolm Hutty <cacib@liberty.org.uk>
>To: declan@well.com
>Subject: UK Government unveils crypto escrow legislation
>
>The UK government has announced legislation designed to force
>escrow of confidentiality keys on UK netizens.
>
>They are planning a licenced system of Certificate Authorities in an
>attempt to force key escrow down the throats of British computer
>users. This could be a model for other governments. The idea is
>that digital signatures get preferential legal treatment if certified by
>a licenced CA, but to get a licence you must escrow confidentiality
>keys.

So much for the notion espoused by Labor supporters, notably Philip
Hallam-Baker, that the Tony Blair government would of course never support
the evil policies originally floated by the Conservatives.

Yeah, like George Bush wouldn't have supported Clipper had he won in '92.


--Tim May

Y2K: A good chance to reformat America's hard drive and empty the trash.
---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:---------:----
Timothy C. May              | Crypto Anarchy: encryption, digital money,
ComSec 3DES:   831-728-0152 | anonymous networks, digital pseudonyms, zero
W.A.S.T.E.: Corralitos, CA  | knowledge, reputations, information markets,
Licensed Ontologist         | black markets, collapse of governments.