RIPA authorisations consultation response - no use of encryption ?

[Brian Gladman]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Nicholas Bohm" <nbohm at ernest.net>
To: "UK Cryptography Policy Discussion Group" 
<ukcrypto at chiark.greenend.org.uk>
Sent: Monday, November 09, 2009 2:50 PM
Subject: Re: RIPA authorisations consultation response - no use of 
encryption ?


> Brian Gladman wrote:
> Roland Perry wrote:
>  In article
> <OF225FEAA7.5382741D-ON80257669.001C2C62-49257669.001C57CD at nominet.org.uk
>    , Ray.Bellis at nominet.org.uk writes
>      As you might expect, the idea of generating and
> sending hashes or another form of digital
> signature to certify the integrity of the data has not found any
>        hold.
>      When I made the obvious points to the Home
> Office, the response was that it wasn't Chief Constables top
>        priority.
>
> One hopes that it would become so the first time someone wins a case
> because the prosecution cannot prove that the disclosed data has not
> been modified.
>      Perhaps you are confusing the collection of evidence with the 
> collection
> of intelligence. The collection of evidence does appear to pass the
> normal "quality" tests most of the time (given the apparent absence of
> such cases being won/lost).
>
> What technical authenticity tests are applied to electronic data as a
> matter of course before it can be put before a UK Court as evidence?
>  I believe none; it's up to any party to whom the evidence is adverse to 
> challenge it.
>
> (An old example: telex messages were routinely used in evidence without 
> anyone needing to put anything in evidence about the reliability of the 
> system, such as that the text at both ends was identical.)

Thank you both Richard and Nicholas.

Sadly it's the answer I expected even if not the one I hoped for.

    Brian Gladman


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