Radio 4: The Long View

1. Communications and Encryption

Radio 4 Series 1 Episode 1
First broadcast 22nd December 2015, 09:00
Duration: 27:45
Jonathan Freedland finds out how today's concerns about the privacy of our communications, and debates about encryption, have intriguing precedents in the 17th century.

Clips from this programme

Introduction: Jonathan Freedland finds out how today's concerns about the privacy of our communications, and debates about encryption, have intriguing precedents in the 17th century - John Furloe, British Postal Museum and Archive.

Duration: 01:35
Topics:

Oliver Cromwell's time, in 1653 uses John Furloe to intercept threats via Intelligence (Jamie Bartlett) compared with Theresa May's role as Home Secretary - The Post in Cromwell's time - The intercepting Age; only 100s per day compared with WhatasApp 1 Billion per day, now (UK only). Privacy then and Now

Duration: 07:27
Topics:

Using the powers of mail interception: Mount Pleasant Office (Samuel Moreland) - A trigger for suspicion from the security services (Jamie Bartlett)

Duration: 05:29
Topics:

Evading interception and surveillance - Encoding and Encryption with Ciphers in Cromwell's times

Duration: 03:51
Topics:

Modern day secret communications (Jamie Bartlett) - Public Key encryption - John Wallace the 1650's code breaker, easy & difficult ciphers

Duration: 06:17
Topics:

Plotters against Spymasters: Encrypted messages: Thurloe misses some key communications, compared with the modern age and the new Act: Powers of scrutiny and oversight

Duration: 02:48
Topics:

Thanks & Credits

Duration: 00:18