Intelligible form and PACE

[Charles Lindsey]

Somebody saod that PACE is not being repealed, and that it already contains 
provisions for the police to demand an "explanation" of seized non-textual data. 
Plase could somebody explain more clearly what these powers are, and what sort 
of warrant, if any, is needed (and does it cover decryption)?

Anyway, if PACE is to continue to provide that facility for the police, then 
perhaps the matter of intelligibility can be handled by defining "key" as 
follows:

"key" ... means and ... code ... which ...
    (a) allows access to the electronic data, or
    (b) facilitates the putting of the data into an intelligible form;
in circumstances where its intended purpose is to deny access to the
data or to its intelligible form to any person or apparatus.

The wording could be improved, but do you get the idea?

So if it is an incomprehensible file in Microsoft Word, then Word is not
a "key" within that definition (whatever one's personal view of Bill
Gates motives :-) ).


Charles H. Lindsey ---------At Home, doing my own thing------------------------
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