VNUnet 3/10/2001: "UK web laws to be tightened"

[Caspar Bowden]

http://www.vnunet.com/News/1125814 
UK web laws to be tightened
By William Eazel at the Labour Party conference [03-10-2001]

Science minister Lord Sainsbury has said that UK laws on tapping the web
may be tightened in light of the terrorist attacks on the US. But he
told a meeting at the Labour Party conference that the concerns of the
IT industry would be taken seriously. 

Lord Sainsbury told the Parliamentary IT Committee fringe meeting on
Tuesday that technology policy would be reviewed, including the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, the law requiring users of
encryption to surrender keys to police with a warrant, or face a jail
sentence.

He described the original version of the Act, which included 'key
escrow' clauses requiring encryption users to provide copies of keys to
the authorities, as "rather draconian". 

"As we showed first time, we're very conscious that you must do things
that won't damage the IT industry," he said.

Away from security questions, Lord Sainsbury warned IT firms that
cutting research spending was a false economy. "I think it's true that,
when times are tough, hang on to your overall strategy," he said.

The science minister explained that the Government planned to work on
boosting entrepreneurial levels in poorer parts of the country by
increasing direct investment in startups.

"It seems to be critical to our agenda of innovation that this is spread
throughout the country," he said. "In 1999, there were 66 new businesses
registered for every 100,000 people in London - this compares to 29 in
Yorkshire and Humber, and 21 in the north east."

On the issue of broadband usage, Lord Sainsbury rejected the argument
that South Korea, one of the world's highest users per head, should be
seen as a model. 

"The South Koreans are mainly using broadband for gambling and
pornography," he said. "It's not absolutely clear to me that this is
leading to a better society."