US District Ct. Says Defendant Must Provide Decrypted Data 767
An anonymous reader writes "If you're planning on traveling internationally with a laptop, consider the following: District Court Overturns Magistrate Judge in Fifth Amendment Encryption Case. Laptop searches at the border have been discussed many times previously. This is the case where a man entered the country allegedly carrying pornographic material in an encrypted file on his laptop. He initially cooperated with border agents during the search of the laptop then later decided not to cooperate citing the Fifth Amendment. Last year a magistrate judge ruled that compelling the man to enter his password would violate his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. Now in a narrow ruling, US District Judge William K. Sessions III said the man had waived his right against self-incrimination when he initially cooperated with border agents."
sohp notes that "the order is not that he produce the key — just that he provide an unencrypted copy."
Re:5th Amendment (Score:5, Funny)
"Why not just lie and provide a bunch of mundane TPS reports? They shouldn't be able to tell what the encrypted files are, it's mathematically infeasible to solidly prove that one way or another."
Waived his right against self-incrimination... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:5th Amendment (Score:2, Funny)
This poses an interesting problem. (Score:3, Funny)
Whats on the laptop, son? (Score:5, Funny)
"I don't know, its a encryption contest. First person to decrypt the file gets $10,000."
"Its a raw rendered animation. I am preparing my portfolio to send to Pixar."
"Its a wadfile I'm assembling for an open source game file."
"It's a dump of an old VAX proprietary database that my boss wants me to port to SQL."
"Its a gig of encrypted kiddie pr0n."
Think carefully now...
Re:Whats on the laptop, son? (Score:5, Funny)
When asked at the border what that huge suspicious file is on your laptop, do you answer..."
Well, lets have a look at that now, and see which is the most fitting answer:
"I don't know, its a encryption contest. First person to decrypt the file gets $10,000."
Guard: A $10,000 reward eh? I better have a look at this. I need a new holiday...
Outcome: Laptop lost.
"Its a raw rendered animation. I am preparing my portfolio to send to Pixar."
Guard: A new animation going to Pixar eh? I better have a look at this, this could be freakin' cool!
Outcome: Laptop lost.
"Its a wadfile I'm assembling for an open source game file."
Guard: A WAD file eh? What sort of open source sick stuff are you doing you whacko? Come into this little cosy room for a moment.
Outcome: Laptop Lost. Arrested.
"It's a dump of an old VAX proprietary database that my boss wants me to port to SQL."
Guard: Oh, really, a secret mumbo jumbo database huh? Are you sure you aren't a TERRORIST?!? Is that a picture of the George Washington statue I see in your pocket? Better come with me!
Outcome: Arrested for being terrorist. Thrown into waiting cell for six years.
"Its a gig of encrypted kiddie pr0n."
Guard: Oh come on, be serious, if you aren't going to do this baggage check stuff properly don't do it at all. Now shove off!
Outcome: Guard doesn't believe such amazingly incriminating answer. Thinks you are obnoxious. Tells you to keep going.
Re:5th Amendment (Score:5, Funny)
Re:5th Amendment (Score:1, Funny)
You've apparently never driven on an American road...
Re:One word: (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Whats on the laptop, son? (Score:2, Funny)