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Business on Straw

------- Forwarded message follows ------- Date sent: Wed, 03 Oct 2001 11:23:36 +0100 To: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk From: Donald ramsbottom <donald@ramsbottom.co.uk> Subject: Business on Straw Send reply to: ukcrypto@chiark.greenend.org.uk 

>From CW360:

http://www.cw360asp.com/eb/eb.asp?b=303&a=106429&f=1&i=256108 

>                   Business groups deny Straw's accusation 
>                   by  Bruce Ackland 
>                   Tuesday 2 October 2001 
>
>                   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. 
>
>                   Straw last week branded opponents of Internet
>                   surveillance legislation as "naïve" 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 
>
>                   E.centre's managing director Alan Boxer said: "Who
>                   does Mr Straw think has been naïve 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. 
>
>                   "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 5 Seagrove Avenue Hayling Island Hampshire UK Tel (44) 023 9246 5931 Fax (44) 023 9246 8349 Regulated by the Law Society in the conduct of Investment business Service by Fax or Email NOT accepted

------- End of forwarded message -------

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