BAD NEWS :( Government amendments reinforce Big Browser

[Caspar Bowden]

> 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.

S.2.1
"telecommunication system" means any system (including the apparatus
comprised in it) which exists (whether wholly or partly in the United
Kingdom or elsewhere) for the purpose of facilitating the transmission of
communications by any means involving the use of electrical or
electro-magnetic energy.

a) a web-server fits the definition of a telecommunications system in the
Bill. If not, why not?

b) it's a bit of a coincidence if these amendments have nothing to do with
the clickstream issue (given the language about signals/apparatus etc.)?

c) given this is such a major area of criticism, why has there been utter
silence from government?

d) has anybody on this list been told by offials privately that full http
strings, whether logged in an ISP transparent cache, or on a web server
host, or captured through (non!-)interception, is NOT supposed to be RIP
comms data

> 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

I'd obviously regret that - but how else will we achieve clarification while
the Bill at an amendable stage? When are these vaunted Codes of Practice
going to be published? We have put this web-trail issue to officials at
various public and private fora on numerous occasions - there has never been
a hint of denial. It would be terrific if Simon came on the list and said
all the clickstream stuff is baloney.

--
Caspar Bowden               Tel: +44(0)20 7354 2333
Director, Foundation for Information Policy Research
RIP Information Centre at:    www.fipr.org/rip#media