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              | Date: 2000-03-07 
 
 PC Cybercrime: Der lange Arm der USA-.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.- -.-. --.-
 
 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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