Business on Straw

[Donald ramsbottom]

From CW360:

http://www.cw360asp.com/eb/eb.asp?b=3D303&a=3D106429&f=3D1&i=3D256108



>                   Business groups deny Straw's accusation=20
>                   by  Bruce Ackland=20
>                   Tuesday 2 October 2001=20
>
>                   Business organisations have reacted with anger and=
 concern
>                   to Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's claim that opponents
of the
>                   Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA)
undermined the
>                   fight against terrorism.=20
>
>                   Straw last week branded opponents of Internet=
 surveillance
>                   legislation as "na=EFve" and claimed that the changes to
RIPA they
>                   had forced on the government weakened its ability to
intercept
>                   communications from terrorists.
>
>                   The e.centre, an e-business trade group, was=
 particularly
>                   angered by the former home secretary's statement=20
>
>                   E.centre's managing director Alan Boxer said: "Who does=
 Mr
>                   Straw think has been na=EFve in this regard? I certainly
do not
>                   accept that e.centre and our 16,000 corporate members
from all
>                   industrial sectors deserve to be accused.=20
>
>                   "The e.centre has always supported the government's
policy in
>                   trying to establish an interception regime to police
threats to the
>                   economic well-being of the UK. But when government
requires
>                   communication service providers to set up systems which
are
>                   technically not feasible, it is only right that
industry points out the
>                   unworkable nature of such a strategy," he added.
>
>                   The Institute of Directors (IoD) said tactics used in
fighting the
>                   RIP Act would have to be reconsidered following the
attacks on
>                   the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.
>
>                   Richard Barron, policy unit director of the IoD, said:
"The events
>                   of 11 September have put a different complexion on the
debate.
>                   It changes the whole nature of the argument. There will
be more
>                   data interception and therefore more burdens on=
 companies.
>
>                   "I would hope against a knee-jerk reaction from the
government,
>                   but we totally understand the need for heightened
anti-terror
>                   legislation. I just hope the government can be clear
about what
>                   they plan to do."
>
>                   Pamela Taylor, senior e-business policy adviser at the
>                   Confederation of British Industry, added: "We are as
concerned
>                   about terrorism as the government, but we would urge
caution
>                   when it comes to increased data interception. The
events in the
>                   US demonstrated that business is a key target for
terrorists and
>                   we hope that in response to this the government will
continue to
>                   seek a balance between new anti-terror legislation and
>                   business interests


Donald Ramsbottom BA LLb (Hons) PGdip
Ramsbottom & Co Solicitors
Internet and Global Encryption Law Specialists & General UK  Law Matters
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