[mikeash]

I'm not saying it shouldn't be illegal to provide the metadata needed to interpret a large number. I'm saying that lots of large numbers need no metadata to interpret them. For example, if you came across a number consisting of the raw text of this comment represented as ASCII and encoded with base 256, you'd easily be able to figure out what it said with no metadata at all. If this comment contained something illegal, then you'd easily be able to obtain that. Metadata isn't needed.

[ythn]

You'd still need to know that the number is a base 256 encoded string, and the chances you run across such a number in an innocent context (i.e. math publication) seems infinitesimal.

Someone who knowingly hosts a base-256 encoded secret should be held as accountable as if they had hosted the same information in picture form, morse code form, or plaintext.

[mikeash]

Base 256 is plaintext. That’s just standard bytes.

[dorgo]

The metadata in this case is the ability to read english text.