Child abuse unit paying for data

[Roland Perry]

In article <A1DEA032-4169-4DF1-B39E-FFD215A3BB74@batten.eu.org>, Ian 
Batten <igb@batten.eu.org> writes
>today programme covered story at 0650-ish.

[I didn't listen, nor can I "listen again", as it's not yet been posted 
by the BBC].

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7840924.stm

That story raises an interesting issue - RIPA is all about providing 
information regarding *offenders*, and does very little to facilitate 
enquiries about *victims*. There was a small change proposed to allow 
police to demand information to identify dead bodies (eg by doing a 
reverse DQ on the phone in their pocket), which wasn't allowed before, 
because being found dead is not of itself a crime.

Therefore the requests for data are probably being made under the DPA 
s29(3) provisions. If that's the case, the situation is more complicated 
because ISPs are not *compelled* to produce the data, but have to make a 
judgement about whether there are sufficient grounds, as well as whether 
such assistance should be charged for.
-- 
Roland Perry