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                Date: 2000-03-07
                 
                 
                PC Cybercrime: Der lange Arm der USA
                
                 
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      Das ENFOPOL Derivat Computer-Cybercrime ist auch auf Ebene des  
Europarats in Vorberietung. Dass die Briten wieder einmal die Ersten  
sind, verwundert nicht. Dahinter reckt sich mächtig der lange Arm der  
USA. 
 
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Computer crime plans attacked 
 
The Bill will help fight crime say the government 
 
Laws proposed by the UK Government to enable the interception of  
electronic communications in the battle against organised crime have  
been criticised as appalling and objectionable. 
 
The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Bill debate was opened by  
the Home Secretary Jack Straw who said law enforcement agencies  
worldwide were worried about the criminal use of encryption to send  
coded electronic messages. 
 
["It is the most appalling legislation that I have ever seen" Ian Bruce  
MP ] 
 
He said UK and the US was putting in place a package of measures  
to tackle the problem. 
 
"In European terms, we are ahead of the game. Our goal is to make  
the UK the best and safest place in the world to do e-commerce. 
 
"The gloomy prognosis though is that whatever is done, law  
enforcement will take a hit over encryption." 
 
"Presumed guilty" 
 
However, opposition politicians expressed concern over the proposed  
data-gathering powers and a part of the bill which requires people in  
possession of encrypted data to provide the encryption key or face  
prosecution. 
 
The Shadow Home Secretary Anne Widdecombe said: "The crucial  
point is that people will be presumed guilty until they can prove  
themselves innocent. That is questionable justice." 
 
Liberal democrat Simon Hughes added that the bill "offers a relatively  
light penalty for people who intentionally claim that they cannot find  
their method of decryption. Clearly, major criminals would rather  
accept a six-month punishment than a much more severe penalty." 
 
And Conservative MP Ian Bruce said: "It is the most appalling  
legislation that I have ever seen. It needs an enormous amount of  
amendment." 
 
'Straw must think again' 
 
Caspar Bowden, director of the Foundation for Information Policy  
Research and cited as an authority during the debate said: "On the  
crucial issue of the burden-of-proof, Jack Straw blew it. The issue  
was only clarified at the end of the debate after repeated challenges  
and evasions and FIPR's analysis was entirely confirmed." 
 
British newspapers also reacted angrily. A leader article in the  
Financial Times said: "As now drafted the legislation would enable  
the authorities to collect huge amounts of data on ordinary citizens. 
 
"Among the most objectionable parts of this bill are those which  
require internet service providers to become party to secret  
surveillance of their customers. 
 
"Internet commerce will only flourish if all parties are confident of  
security. The idea that internet providers should fill police computers  
with credit card details, bank statements and commercial contracts  
may be far from Mr Straw's intention. But this bill makes it possible.  
He must think again." 
 
Source 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_669000/669381.stm
                   
 
 
 
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edited by Harkank 
published on: 2000-03-07 
comments to office@quintessenz.at
                   
                  
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