How are spoof decryptions prevented?

[Brian Gladman]

From: <Tom.A.Parker@icl.com>
To: <ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk>
Sent: 02 August 1999 17:35 PM
Subject: How are spoof decryptions prevented?


> This may seem unduly simple minded, but in a situation where enforcement
to
> provide clear text is imposed upon me, how would the LEA know that I did
the
> decryption truly, rather than substitute some censored alternative?
> Presumably they would wish to see me going through the decryption process
> itself, or have some other contextual evidence that would assure them -
not
> always either practical or foolproof.

Agreed but I think we should be wary of a situation developing in which
honest, law abiding citizens are required by law to demonstrate their
honesty to the police.   We presume people are innocent unless they are
proved guilty and I am inclined to the view that the police should presume
that citizens are honest unless they have valid reasons for believing
otherwise.  Only in the latter case should proof be needed.

And if the police have good reason to believe that a citizen has provided a
wrong decryption, they can surely charge the individual with attempting to
pervert the course of justice (or whatever the offence really is).

         Brian