5 December 1999

From: "Caspar Bowden" <cb@fipr.org>
To: "Ukcrypto (E-mail)" <ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk>
Subject: FIPR News Release: Proposed Amendments to E-Comms Bill
Date: Sun, 5 Dec 1999 19:59:17 -0000

FOUNDATION FOR INFORMATION POLICY RESEARCH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE : 6th December 1999

ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS BILL

FIPR ANNOUNCES PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO RESTORE CONFIDENCE IN UK E-COMMERCE POLICY

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The Foundation for Information Policy research has released its proposals for amendment of the Electronic Communications Bill.  (See http://www.fipr.org/uk_ecomm_bill/fipr_review.html for full details.)

Amendments are proposed to several key provisions.  FIPR supports the aims the Government have announced for the Bill, and has congratulated the E-Minister Patricia Hewitt on her skill in purging it of undesirable elements, but considers that several important changes are still needed.

Traces of Key Escrow must go

"The drafting of the clause prohibiting mandatory key escrow is deficient," said FIPR Director Caspar Bowden today. "The e-Minister has clarified in parliament that it is intended to apply to both Part.I and Part.II of the Bill, and we expect to see the necessary changes adopted without controversy".

Electronic ID cards?

FIPR is suggesting amendments to clause 8 to stop the Government demanding electronic identity cards from anyone trying to use Government services over the Internet.

Caspar Bowden commented, "Parts of the Bill reflect an attempt by some parts of Government to pave the way for identity cards.  This poses grave threats to privacy, and is politically unacceptable to many people.  Clause 8 gives Ministers enormous powers to legislate, and we want to make sure there is no chance of those powers being used for an identity card project."

Protecting consumers

FIPR wants to see the Bill include the same provisions on signatures as the new Australian legislation.  This makes it clear that nobody is bound by a signature they did not make.

"This is an important rule for the protection of consumers," said Caspar Bowden.  "It will be a long time before technology alone is strong enough to protect consumers from risks to their signature keys, and it may never be.  The law does not make people responsible for signatures they have not made, and we want to make sure this rule cannot be changed by Ministers."

Further information from:

Nicholas Bohm, FIPR legal officer, 01279 871272