By Joey Gardiner, 21 May 2001 18:00
NEWS While most in the IT industry welcome the proposals - which include allowing parents to take out court orders to prevent suspected paedophiles from contacting children - the timing has lead many to conclude the government is using the web as a political football.
Martino Corbelli, European communications director for web software firm SurfControl, was highly critical: "I would have been impressed if he'd said this months ago - we've lobbied and lobbied and got no response whatsoever. Now, as soon as the election comes along he jumps on the bandwagon."
Others accused the government of using "scare tactics" to win votes, and said it was missing the point.
Home secretary, Jack Straw, yesterday outlined proposals which include setting up "paedophile prevention orders" similar to the ones used to protect people from harrassment. Persons who ignore the court orders would be liable to up to 5 years imprisonment.
A spokesman today insisted that the approach is the right one. "It is our responsibility to both encourage what's right and to do what we can to tackle what is wrong with the internet," he said.
However, Philip Virgo, strategy adviser to IMIS (Institute for the Management of Information Systems) said: "Rather than new laws, we need real government investment in a new cyber crime unit to give us the expertise and the resources to fight all kinds of internet crime, not just the ones that are emotive for voters. This would end up dealing with paedophiles far more effectively."
Despite Straw's proposals, there is still no central, independent body where cybercrime can be reported. Critics say the government's recently unveiled high-tech crime unit - launched last month at a cost of £25m - isn't up to the job.
For related news see:
Anyone for footy? Straw boots the high-tech political ball
http://www.silicon.com/a44573
Fighting Fraud: How far we've come (Part I)
http://www.silicon.com/a44177
Fighting Fraud: A call to arms...
http://www.silicon.com/a43888
Fighting Fraud: The manifesto
http://www.silicon.com/a43887
Take two: Thus to bust Demon child porn
http://www.silicon.com/a43414
ISPs must block illegal content, says senior policeman
http://www.silicon.com/a42890
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