British animal rights activists who had their computers confiscated in raids earlier this year have been told to hand over encryption keys or face jail. Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, the police have the right to demand this. The act was deemed controversial when passed last month, as opponents pointed out that those it was aimed at – terrorist and pedophiles – would probably be willing to go to jail rather than hand over the necessary information. Under the Act, people can be asked to turn their data into a readable form, as well as issue a notice that prevents people saying that they’ve been asked to do so – which sound very Kafkaesque. Those who refuse to comply or hand over encryption keys face up to two years in prison.
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