Abstract: The invention provides for a method for managing encryption keys in a communication network (10) comprising at least one transmitter (14) and at least one receiver (16, 18, 20, 22), wherein the receiver (16, 18, 20, 22) has access to at least one encryption key, wherein the validity of the key is determined within the receiver. Furthermore, the invention provides for a receiver (16, 18, 20, 22), a communication network (10), and a computer program for performing the described method.