The bill makes it a crime to possess or use an altered telecommunications instrument (such as a cellular telephone or scanning receiver) to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services (Sec. 9). This provision is intended to prevent the illegal use of cellular and other wireless communications services. Violations under this section face imprisonment for up to 15 years and a fine of up to $50,000.

Imagine if your government decided to outlaw deadbolts on font doors, so cops wouldn't have to put so much shoulder effort into executing "no knock" search warrants. But then to make you feel safer, they make "breaking and entering" a felony worthy of 15 years in prison, even if nothing is stolen and no one assaulted. In America cops often use armored battering rams to execute knock warrants. Similarly, they can use court orders to obtain keys to decode encrypted transmissions or files. If a person is ordered to turn over their password to unlock their documents, they can be held in contempt if they don't, and they can demand their right to not have any of the documents used against them if they do. In America at least, there are no new civil liberties to be found in the use of strong crypto. The legitimate, constitutional use of police power cannot be thwarted by using this new technology. Only the uncontittutional abuses of state power will be thwarted by use of strong crypto. brad