Pakistan to ban encryption software

[Feuer Frei!]

Millions of internet users in Pakistan will be unable to send emails and messages without fear of government snooping after authorities banned the use of encryption software.
A legal notice sent to all internet providers (ISPs) by the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority, seen by the Guardian, orders the ISPs to inform authorities if any of their customers are using virtual private networks (VPNs) to browse the web.
Virtual private networks allow internet users to connect to the web undetected, meaning that they can access banned websites and send emails without fear of government interception.


Pakistan's 20 million internet users have previously been banned from popular social networks, such as Facebook, because of blasphemous material about the prophet Muhammad. All internet traffic in the country travels through the Pakistan Internet Exchange, which can be intercepted by the military and civil intelligence agencies. The move echoes a crackdown against encrypted communications across the border in India and in China.


SOURCE

[Penguin]

I bet also some western politicians get wet pants when they read this. The legality of encryption will be the next big fight regarding privacy and data protection rights of the individual.

The Directive 2006/24/EC in the EU is one step into this ugly direction.

[mookiemookie]

They can take my TrueCrypt when they pry it from my cold, dead hard drive. I've had computers stolen in a burglary before, and no way and I playing fast and loose in that way with my personal information anymore.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

They can take my TrueCrypt when they pry it from my cold, dead hard drive. I've had computers stolen in a burglary before, and no way and I playing fast and loose in that way with my personal information anymore.

Rgr that Mark