FITUG e.V.
Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft
FITUG e.V.Förderverein Informationstechnik und Gesellschaft |
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------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Tue, 11 Jul 2000 20:03:43 -0400 From: David Banisar <banisar@privacy.org> Subject: Open Letter on UK RIP Bill To: Global Internet Liberty Campaign <gilc-plan@gilc.org> Send reply to: gilc-plan@gilc.org
This letter is being introduced in the House of Lords tomorrow. Its a rare day when Amnesty Intl, Article 19 and the Countryside Alliance (the people who organize large marches for fox hunting in London), along with many of the major trade unions, and doctors groups in a single letter.
An online petition will start shortly on this.
Dave
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OPEN LETTER CONCERNING THE REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS BILL
We wish to express our opposition to the UK government's Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) bill.
We agree that the government has a duty to protect public safety, but the RIP bill is neither an acceptable nor a responsible means of achieving this goal. We are deeply concerned that the bill will inhibit the development of the Internet and e-commerce, while creating a range of onerous and unfair impositions on individuals, organisations and companies.
The bill substantially increases the power of law enforcement and security agencies, and yet provides wholly inadequate measures for authorisation and oversight. The ability of Government to demand decryption keys creates a dangerous precedent which will affect the rights of all computer users. Surveillance of website visits will undermine confidence in the Internet as a means of communication.
We urge the government to withdraw the bill. Any subsequent legislation should, at the very least, provide stringent limitations and oversight to ensure that it does not violate the rights to liberty, fair trial, freedom of expression, freedom of association, and privacy.
SIGNED (at 11th June 2000)
Privacy International
Amnesty International
The Telecommunications Managers Association
John Wadham, director Liberty
Professor J Stuart Horner University of Central Lancashire
Index on Censorship
The Countryside Alliance
Professor Ian Angell, London School of Economics
Tony Bunyan Editor, Statewatch
Professor Michael Pidd President, Operational Research Society
Manufacturing, Science & Finance Union
Professor Michael Pringle, chairman Royal College of General Practitioners
Esther Dyson, chairman, EDventure Holdings
Helen Bamber, director Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture
Professor George Alberti
Claire Rayner, Patients Association
Richard Blair
Feminists Against Censorship
Consumers International
Caspar Bowden, director Foundation for Information Policy Research
Campaign Against Censorship of the Internet in Britain
Christine Hancock, General Secretary Royal College of Nursing
UK UNIX Users Group
Dr Margaret Jones Brook Advisory Centres
Dr Fleur Fisher, Chairman, BMA Foundation for AIDS
Frances D'Souza CMG
Poptel
The Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematography and Theatre Union
Dr Brian Gladman
First Tuesday
Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK)
Frances Blunden, Director Prevention of Professional Abuse Network
GreenNet
The National Union of Journalists
Article 19
Relatives for Justice, Northern Ireland
Campaign Against the Arms Trade
The Society of Editors
Simon Moores Chairman, The Research Group
Charter 88
UNISON
Mark Thomas Vera Productions
The Internet Society (England)
The Future Trust
Peter Tatchell OutRage!
Mike Slocombe urban75
Campaign for Freedom of Information
Duncan Campbell
Roger Goss Director, Patient Concern
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