Letwin wants increased penalties for refusal to decrypt

[Bettina Jodda (Twister)]

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Morning

On Saturday 17 August 2002 02:06, Nexus wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "michael (ukcrypto list)" <ukcrypto@ttfn35.freeserve.co.uk>
> To: <ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk>
> Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 11:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Letwin wants increased penalties for refusal to decrypt
> [snip]
>
> > "The penalty [for failing to decrypt]", states Letwin,
> > should be "as serious as the encrypted material".
>
> That is impressive - deciding on what the encrypted material is even before
> it is decrypted !
> What's the point in doing it in the first place ?
> *throws encrypted drive in bin to avoid future self incrimination for
> nonexistant crime*

A probably silly question from someone not being acquainted with (?) 
cryptography but trying to find some sense in these laws:
What happens if you truly do not remember your passphrase?
I mean --- I have often failed to open some data (duck and cover) because I 
did forget the password.
So what will happen then?
Will they believe me? Or will they rather say I deny to decrypt my files?

I mean - if I have encrypted files on my hard-disc.

Let us imagine I am trying to get material for an article about criminal 
elements on the net... (argh)
So somebody finds out I am on sites like "child-naked and....com" (I hope this 
does not exist...*g*) - and then somebody is the opinion that I am a 
pedophil... how will I prove I am not owning some pedophilia-material when I 
have forgotten the passphrase?


Furthermore:
where will be the difference between
a) someone who is owning pedophilia material
b) someone who is "likely to be owning" pedophilia material but fails to 
decrypt files on his hard-disc supposed to be pedophilia material?

So forgetting your passphrase will be equal to owning pedophilia material?

And - what happens when people be able to see your material and it is not 
pedophilia material? Will they examine it furthermore? What if it is some 
kind of secret information for your business?...

I hope these questions are not too silly.
If yes, sorry.

Twister
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