>>>>> Personally I'd like to know that terrorists didn't have completely secure communications and government fishing trips where dealt with through the courts and a free press.
>>>>
>>>>The efficacy of that strategy depends on the criminals not having access to encryption. But when you outlaw encryption then, like guns, only the outlaws will have it. Furthermore, it assumes that the problem in preventing the terrorist act is one of not being able to decrypt encrypted messages but that does not address the root causes of the problem.
>>>>
>>>>"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
>>>
>>>I don't regard email privacy as an essential liberty for terrorists and criminals.
>>>and that Benjamin Franklin quote is always trotted out but could be classed as "things that smug people who don't have a problem say"
>>>
>>
>>The point is that outlawing encryption will make it so only the outlaws will have it. The Franklin quote is not just smug people trotting something out - it is absolutely applicable because once you go down the road of giving up your rights you will not get them back easily ever again. I shouldn't have to explain why I want my privacy - it was fought for and won and now I have it. One does not need to justify having it.
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>>>Certainly the root cause of current terrorism needs to be addressed as its the only cure but when this round is over there will be something else because thats the way some people are and the regulated ability to intercept communication is vital in the same way that government organisations could allow someones post to be intercepted and read in the past.
>>
>>Just because once upon a time our physical post could be read does not mean that our electronic post should now also be readable. What logic is that? That's one of the reasons why encryption was invented in the first place - to protect our privacy.
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>>.
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>Electronic encryption began for business and government classified communication. It wasn't invented because "they" could snoop into your private email.

I didn't say that - I said "...one of the reasons why encryption was invented ... to protect our privacy" - PGP - Zimmermann for example.

> And the reading of your private post was not once upon a time, its happening right now and you would not know if your post was being opened and checked by government organisations .

No doubt, I agree with you,but it is besides the point. I now DO have the ability to send a private communication, via email or otherwise. I now DO have the ability to protect my private data/content. I now DO have the ability to surf the internet anonymously due to encryption. If you make encryption illegal or force keys to be handed over or whatever then all the law abiding people will comply and the criminals will carry on doing whatever they do. That is the point I am making. And in the meantime another one of your rights will have been diminished or taken away.

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