Patricia Hewitt has backed down along with the other technically unaware members of Labours London cabinet (thats ALL of them) and dropped their desire to imprison those who wouldn't hand over their data encryption keys!

Why?

It would have been illegal under the European Convention on Human Rights

Why?

Demanding you hand over ANYTHING which may incriminate yourself in a legal case is not permitted

The ECHR makes privacy a basic human right.

Of course the snoops in Whitehall will not be happy....

BUT, for now a victory for moderate people that will give Ecommerce in Scotland and England a MASSIVE boost!!