EC secure network highlights UK encryption troubles

NEWS The European Commission (EC) is forging ahead with the development of a secure network for European companies to share business information. The announcement added to pressure on the UK government to finalise its policy on encryption and ecommerce. The EC will use encryption to secure data published on the network so only trusted recipients can read the information. UK consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers has been commissioned to develop the network, which is being hailed as an example of best practice ecommerce development. The EC's acceptance of strong encryption as necessary to protect online business transactions highlights the UK government's growing isolation. The UK's Department of Trade and Industry and Home Office are being lobbied by law enforcement agencies to ban strong encryption and make sure police are given powers to crack the codes. Danny de Temmerman, spokesman for DGXIII, the EC directorate responsible for information society, telecoms and information markets, told Silicon.com that the key to making progress is finding a balance in policy. "We managed to get this advanced with the secure network because we are always striving to balance encryption policy between the needs of law enforcement and business concerns," he said.