A matter of security, privacy and trust: A study of the principles and values of encryption in New Zealand

New Zealand has a reasonably comprehensive and well-grounded legal regime and strategy for dealing with cybersecurity matters. However, there is one area that deserves further attention and discussion – encryption. Encryption is at the heart of and underpins many technologies and processes, but current laws and policies do not expressly cover this. The principal objective of this study is to identify the principles and values of encryption in New Zealand with a view to informing future developments of encryption- related laws and policies. The overarching question is: What are the fundamental principles and values that apply to encryption? In order to answer this question, the study adopts an interdisciplinary approach that examines the technical, legal and social dimensions of encryption.