Eat Your (Encryption) Keys Now

"All your keys are belong to us."

From: Encryption (encryption@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk)
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2007 10:25:22 +0100
Conversation: RIPA Part III
Subject: RIPA Part III

1. As a consequence of Parliamentary approval, Part III of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000, which relates to the Investigation of Protected Electronic Information, comes into force on 1st October. It also commences those parts of Part 4 of the Act which relate to the scrutiny of the powers in Part III and to the issue and effect of codes of practice. The Commencement order can be found here: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/20072196.htm

2. The Parliamentary debates can be found here http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld200607/ldhansrd/text/70717-gc0001.htm#07071763000003 and http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmgeneral/deleg5/070717/70717s01.htm and the Code presented to Parliament can be found here: http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/ripa/encryption/code-of-practice/),

3. Part III of RIPA gives no new powers to any public authority to acquire data. All it does do is give them a new power to require that data they have obtained or expect to obtain lawfully should be put into an intelligible form or to require disclosure of the means to make it intelligible.

4. We will be working closely with respondents, public authorities, LEA, industry, financial service providers and NTAC to ensure that the process is proportionate and necessary and that the necessary safeguards are in place. We will engage with representative bodies, such as APACS and the BBA, to ensure that stake holders are engaged and to emphasise the role of NTAC as the lead authority for all matters relating to the operation of Part III of RIPA.

The Home Office web site will be updated with relevant details and a soft and hard copy version of the Code of Practice will be available shortly.

If you have any concerns please do not hesitate to contact the Home Office at encryption@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk or NTAC at ripaiii@ntac.gsi.gov.uk

Home Office
2 Marsham Street
LONDON
SW1P 4DF

Don't say I didn't warn you. Get chewing :)