IMPORTANT - Cryptography Regulations

As of Friday 10 March 2006, providers of cryptography products or services will have to register at the Department of Communications certain information before they can provide cryptography services and/or cryptography products.

It is important to know that failure to register could lead to fine or up to two years imprisonment.

If you are unclear whether you are a cryptography service / product provider - here are the definitions as per the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002:

This is according to the cryptography regulations published in the government gazette on 10 March in terms of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act of 2002 (ECT Act):
"cryptography provider" means any person who provides or who proposes to provide cryptography services or products in the Republic.

"cryptography service" means any service which is provided to a sender or a recipient of a data message or to anyone storing a data message, and which is designed to facilitate the use of cryptographic techniques for the purpose of ensuring
a) that such data or data message can be accessed or can be put into an intelligible form only by certain persons;
b) that the authenticity or integrity of such data or data message is capable of being ascertained;
c) the integrity of the data or data message; or
d) that the source of the data or data message can be correctly ascertained.

"cryptography product" means any product that makes use of cryptographic techniques and is used by a sender or recipient of data messages for the purposes of ensuring-
a) that such data can be accessed only by relevant persons;
b) the authenticity of the data;
c) the integrity of the data; or
d) that the source of the data can be correctly ascertained;

Contact van Gaalen Attorneys today to find out about their special offer to register you / your organisation as a Cryptography Service- / Product provider

Tel: 011 782 9511/2
Fax: 086 631 8898
email: info@vangaalenlaw.co.za (heading - cryptography special offer)