[LINK] Teaching Encryption Soon to be ILLEGAL w/o a PERMIT

Paul Brooks pbrooks-link at layer10.com.au
Wed May 27 13:32:31 AEST 2015


Tempered somewhat by exemptions: (http://www.defence.gov.au/DECO/DSGL.asp)
---

The DSGL contains a number of exemptions that can apply to technology that may
otherwise be controlled. These include technology that is::

  * 'in the public domain' - if the technology is already available to the public, for
    example, in publications, product brochures and public blogs, websites, podcasts
    or databases, then it is not controlled. This exemption applies to all software
    and technology in the DSGL;
  * 'basic scientific research' - any technology which extends only to the
    "/fundamental principles of phenomena or observable facts/", and is "/not
    primarily directed towards a specific practical aim or objective/", falls within
    the definition of basic scientific research, and would therefore not be
    controlled. This exemption applies to all technology listed on the DSGL.

---

So developing a completely new algorithm using 4096 bit keys and teaching that might
need a permit - but teaching standard Diffie-Hellman key exchange and public key
encryption isn't, even with 4096bit keys, its already published.

 



On 27/05/2015 9:43 AM, Jan Whitaker wrote:
> This is daft. 
>
> Teaching Encryption Soon to Be Illegal in Australia
> http://bitcoinist.net/teaching-encryption-soon-illegal-australia/
>     Natalie Johnson
>     May 23, 2015
>
>
> Under the Defence Trade Control Act (DTCA), Australians could face up to ten years in prison for teaching encryption. Criminal charges will go into effect next year. The new legislation will make it illegal for Australians to  teach or provide information on encryption without having a permit.
>
> Australia’s Department of Defence originally passed the Defence Trade Control Act on November 13, 2012. However, amendments were made to the DTCA and passed into law just last month in April. There is a 12-month implementation period, so Australians are safe for now.
>
> The purpose of this law is to control the transfer of defense and strategic goods technologies. The Australian government says it wants “to strengthen Australia’s export controls, and to stop technology that can be used in conventional and weapons of mass destruction from getting into the wrong hands…”
>
> The Defense and Strategic Goods List (DSGL) goes hand in hand with the Defense Trade Control Act. The DTCA prohibits anyone without a permit from supplying “DSGL technology” to anyone outside of Australia. Since encryption falls within these classifications, any citizen of Australia who shares information on encryption with a person outside the country Australian Government Dept of Defencecould face criminal charges.
>
> Teachers at schools or universities will have to be approved to teach encryption if students are outside of Australia. This presents unique challenges in regards to online education and international students. Researchers and those who publish information on encryption will also be affected. The DTCA could also impact open source privacy software and the computer security industry.
>
> It is also important to consider the implications of this law for digital currencies such as Bitcoin. Advanced encryption techniques are at the heart of Bitcoin and digital currency. In cryptography, encryption is one of the primary techniques that gives digital currency users anonymity.
>
> The Defence Trade Control Act is not the only piece of legislation threatening change to Australia’s Bitcoin landscape. However, what does it mean for the future? The progress and development of digital currency and open source projects rely on a constant free flow of information, shared among people worldwide. Due to the nature of sharing information, anyone in the world could be affected by the restrictions of the DTCA, not just Australians.
>
> Is this new Australian law an act of censorship or the government’s way of protecting “national defense”? Please give your comments!
>
>
>
>
> I write books. http://janwhitaker.com/?page_id=8
>
> Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
> jwhit at janwhitaker.com
> Twitter: <https://twitter.com/JL_Whitaker>JL_Whitaker
> Blog: www.janwhitaker.com 
>
> Sooner or later, I hate to break it to you, you're gonna die, so how do you fill in the space between here and there? It's yours. Seize your space. 
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