From: dlv@bwalk.dm.com (Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM)
Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 15:38:32 +0800
To: cypherpunks@toad.com
Subject: Re: encryption laws (fwd)
In-Reply-To: <199705210354.WAA11857@einstein.ssz.com>
Message-ID: <47F27D60w165w@bwalk.dm.com>
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain


Jim Choate <ravage@EINSTEIN.ssz.com> writes:

> Forwarded message:
>
> > Date: Thu, 15 Jul 1993 23:04:39 -0400
> > From: Allan Thompson <sparky12@earthlink.net>
> > Subject: encryption laws
>
> > Would it be possible for a court to subpeona a encrypted file or key,
> >
> > and order you to tell them the key ?
> > If you didn't would you be held in 'contempt of court' ?
>
> If they had reasonable cause to believe you had knowledge of the key and
> were refusing to divulge it under direct order of the court you would be
> held in contempt until you were very old and gray.

Yes - the 5th Amendment is useless like all the other consitutional "rights".

---

Dr.Dimitri Vulis KOTM
Brighton Beach Boardwalk BBS, Forest Hills, N.Y.: +1-718-261-2013, 14.4Kbps