科技產品該不該為警察「合法」開後門? Why smartphones’ “cop mode” might not keep cops out for much longer 隨著香港反送中愈演愈烈,傳出香港人入境中國遭邊檢人員強制解鎖手機,檢查手機中示威相關的對話紀錄、照片或影片,這是否也意味著當我們被要求指紋或是臉部解鎖時,警察其實用不著客氣問你?美國法律會如何解釋這項爭議? 為了辦案,政府要求在手機程式「開後門」 The debate over “compelled decryption” is likely headed for the US Supreme Court. For years government officials in the US and elsewhere have complained about the “going dark” problem—that as it’s become more common for smartphones and computers to encrypt the data stored on them by default, it’s getting harder for authorities to get hold of that data for crime-solving or anti-terrorist purposes. Government officials have called for companies to build encryption “back doors”— also known by euphemisms like “special access” or “responsible encryption” — into devices like smartphones. 密碼可以代表「呈堂證供」,但生物辨識不行 Before biometrics like FaceID and fingerprint sensors, the only way to unlock a locked phone was with its passcode. Some courts have treated passcodes as “testimony” under the Fifth Amendment, ruling that people cannot be compelled to give them up and potentially incriminate themselves. However, biometrics are looked at differently. Overturning a lower court’s decision, Judge David Nye asserted that there is no testimony in biometrics — indeed, barely any thought at all on the part of the suspect. If “the government agents pick the fingers to be pressed on the Touch ID sensor, there is no need to engage the thought process of the subject at all in effectuating the seizure,” Nye wrote in his decision. "The application of the fingerprint to the sensor is simply the seizure of a physical characteristic, and the fingerprint by itself does not communicate anything. It is less intrusive than a forced blood draw. Both can be done while the individual sleeps or is unconscious." 閱讀全文:MIT Techonology Reivew 閱讀時間:5min 關鍵單字 compelled decryption 強制解密、被迫解密 compelled 的意思是「被迫的」,decryption則為「解密」。compelled decryption 原本指的是美國警察能強制要求人解鎖手機、電腦等3C產品,獲取裡面的加密資訊。 Fifth Amendment rights 第五修正案 全稱為美國憲法第五修正案 (the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution),乃美國權利法案(the Bill of Rights) 的一部份,該憲法修正條款保護當事人不受不合理的搜查。 在日常的談話中,當你不想回答某個問題時,可以「to take the Fifth 」或「 to plead the Fifth」 ,意思就是「拒絕回答」,需注意這兩個慣用語中的 Fifth 須大寫,因為它是 Fifth Amendment 的縮寫。 例句: Just take the Fifth if your mom asks where you’ve been all night! 如果你媽問你整晚都在哪混,記得別回答就好! 編輯/ 英語島編輯室 本文收錄於英語島English Island 2019年9月號 訂閱雜誌 |