Wire-tapping laws 'could damage UK competitiveness'

NEWS The consultation period for the Interception of Communications Act 1985 (IOCA) ends today, with activists and industry still uneasy about the legislation's effect on ISPs, British ecommerce and the health of the UK economy as a whole. The proposed laws aim to bring new technologies like Internet and satellite communications in line with existing interception practice, which currently covers only telephone and postal communications. Home Secretary, Jack Straw, first published the consultation paper on 22 June. He said at the time that he looked forward to industry's comments, which would help determine the law's implementation. But industry is still concerned about the financial and technical burden placed on British businesses. "There are serious concerns for ISPs," said Yaman Akdeniz, director of Cyber-Rights and Cyber-Liberties. "It will be an intrusive system for their businesses, and the cost factor could push small-scale ISPs out of business. That's not good for the development of the Internet or ecommerce." Keith Mitchell, chairman of the London Internet Exchange (LINX), said the government has not provided the level of technical detail required for ISPs to estimate the cost of compliance. He said: "The government seems to think that when you install monitoring equipment, you pay for it once and that's it. In practice, the Internet grows very fast and equipment becomes obsolete. It's a significant ongoing cost." Mitchell also noted that the government has no plans to increase technical training for law enforcement representatives, leaving ISPs to pick up the cost of dealing with officials who are not technically literate. Both he and Akedniz agreed that the legislation could threaten the health of the UK economy. "If we implement a monitoring and interception regime that is too strict, then it could damage the UK's competitiveness in ecommerce," Mitchell said. Cyber-Rights and Cyber-Liberties expressed hope that a House of Commons select committee will pick up on these issues and hear evidence. Government policy officers and ministers will now draft the legislation, but the Home Office said it could not estimate when the bill will be debated. Parliament reconvenes on 19 October.