BAD NEWS :( Government amendments reinforce Big Browser

[Tom Thomson]

----- Original Message -----
From: Caspar Bowden <cb@fipr.org>
To: <ukcrypto@maillist.ox.ac.uk>; FIPR-AC (E-mail)
<fipr-ac@netlists.liberty.org.uk>
Cc: 'Charles Lindsey' <chl@clw.cs.man.ac.uk>; 'Roland Perry'
<roland@linx.net>; Simon Watkin (E-mail)
<simon.watkin@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk>
Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 8:53 PM
Subject: BAD NEWS :( Government amendments reinforce Big Browser

[substantial cut]

> The amendement to S.2 below seems absolutely to clarify that comms data
> INCLUDES signals for the actuation of apparatus, i.e the full http string,
> and therefore that conduct in relation to it DOES NOT constitute
> interception - therefore no warrant is required.

I can follow you up to the point where you say "ie" and no further.  Please
explain where in the bill the definition of a telecommunications system is
given in such a way that web servers in general could be said to be
apparatus comprised in it.  The two amendments refer to control signals for
such apparatus, not to control signals for apparatus that is not comprised
in a telecommunications system.

As I've said before, I think harping on about imaginary problems in areas of
the bill which are actually quite sound will detract from the attention paid
to your comments on areas where the bill is thoroughly unsound.

Tom Thomson

> Therefore Big Browser is very much alive folks...
>
> This seems to be doubly confirmed by a parallel amendment to Clause 20
(also
> below)
>
> Roland - do you agree ? Charles - what is the innocent explanation for
this
> "wild conspiracy theory" ?
> Simon ?
> --
> Caspar Bowden               Tel: +44(0)20 7354 2333
> Director, Foundation for Information Policy Research
> RIP Information Centre at:    www.fipr.org/rip#media
>
>
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/ld199900/ldbills/061/amend/am061-b.
> htm
> Clause 2
>
> BY THE LORD BASSAM OF BRIGHTON
> Page 4, line 41, at end insert--
>
>     ("(  )  In subsection (5) the reference to data comprised in or
attached
> to a communication for the purposes of a telecommunication system by means
> of which it is being or may be transmitted includes a reference to any
> communication or part of a communication consisting of signals for the
> actuation of apparatus comprised in a telecommunication system by which
they
> will be or may be received.")
>
>
> Clause 20
>
> BY THE LORD BASSAM OF BRIGHTON
> Page 23, line 22, at end insert--
>
>     ("(  )  In subsection (4)(a) the reference to data comprised in or
> attached to a communication for the purposes of a telecommunication system
> by means of which it is being or may be transmitted includes a reference
to
> any communication or part of a communication consisting of signals for the
> actuation of apparatus comprised in a telecommunication system by which
they
> will be or may be received.")
>
> --
> Caspar Bowden               Tel: +44(0)20 7354 2333
> Director, Foundation for Information Policy Research
> RIP Information Centre at:    www.fipr.org/rip#media
>
>