• silicon.com
• Technology
• Software

By Polly Raymond, 3 March 1999 00:10

NEWS A top law enforcement officer has stepped into the row over UK encryption policy, by calling for police access to all privately-held keys. John Abbott, director general of the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS), was giving evidence to the Trade and Industry Select Committee, a group of MPs which is reviewing the UK's stance on encryption issues. Abbott said police must be given full access to encryption keys so they can monitor criminal activity over the Web - a problem which is set to rise, he warned. "There is a younger, more IT-literate generation of people getting involved with crime, and police must be fully prepared for that," he said. The message contrasts sharply with those given by most experts to appear before the committee. Many business and consumer organisations say imposing tight law enforcement controls on encryption will stifle ecommerce and curtail consumer privacy. Chairman of the Committee, Labour MP, Martin O'Neill, was unconvinced about Abbott's position. "Surely it would be better to teach police about how to use IT properly rather than introduce such Draconian legislation," he said. The Post Office, Oftel and Dr Ross Anderson of Cambridge University's Computer Security group were also giving evidence to the committee. Anderson was particularly scathing about NCIS' stance, saying it was equivalent to the 'Red Flag' law that was enforced in the early days of the motor car.