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IP: U.K. Wants ISPs To Build In Interception
From: Dave Farber <farber () cis upenn edu>
Date: Mon, 28 Jun 1999 08:46:38 -0400
Date: Sun, 27 Jun 1999 01:07:21 +0200 (CEST) From: Anonymous <nobody () replay com> Comments: This message did not originate from the Sender address above. It was remailed automatically by anonymizing remailer software. Please report problems or inappropriate use to the remailer administrator at <abuse () replay com>. Subject: U.K. Wants ISPs To Build In Interception To: cypherpunks () toad com Sender: owner-cypherpunks () toad com U.K. Wants ISPs To Build In Interception (06/25/99, 3:40 p.m. ET) By Duncan Campbell, TechWeb The British government has become the first in Europe to openly propose internationally agreed requirements for ISPs to build technology into networks that would allow for police surveillance. Under proposals for changes to the Interception of Communications Act announced by the Home Office this week, all communications service providers (CSPs) would be required to build interception software or hardware into their systems. The law -- if passed -- will apply to all types of new communications services, including Internet telephony, TV conferencing, paging, and satellite based personal communications systems. The International User Requirements have been drawn up over the past six years by a group founded by the U.S. FBI, called the International Law Enforcement Telecommunications Seminar (ILETS), which meets in secret. The group excludes representatives from industry or civil rights organizations, and has attempted to standardize its objectives as an International Telecommunication Union requirement. According to this week's "white paper," every type of network will be covered, including VPNsoperated through the Internet or other TCP/IP systems. The new law will also cover interception of business telecom services, ranging from basic networks of a few lines found within a small office to large networks linking offices, in both the public and private sectors, the document says. Under the present British Interception of Communications Act, only licensed public telecom operators have to provide government tapping facilities within their networks. However, ISPs must surrender any stored communications data they have, including e-mail, Web-access records, and service details, if served with an order. Home Secretary Jack Straw now proposes all CSPs be required to take reasonable steps to ensure their system is capable of being intercepted. "This will be an ongoing requirement CSPs will have to consider each time they develop their network or introduce new services," Straw said. "CSPs will also be required to provide reasonable assistance to effect warranted intercepts." This will include real-time access to data about their subscribers and information about services they have used, including logs of telephone calls, e-mail, or website accesses. A key part of technical arrangements to be made will ensure operators will not be able to know what information has been copied from their systems. The British government said the new law would make full provision for human-rights legislation, Straw said. But according to Madeleine Colvin of Justice, the international human-rights organization and British section of the International Commission of Jurists, the proposed law would not achieve this. "There are major gaps in what these proposals suggest for controlling surveillance methods. For example, how is anyone to know if their human rights may have been abused if they are never going to be told that their e-mail has been intercepted by the government?" he asked.
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- IP: U.K. Wants ISPs To Build In Interception Dave Farber (Jun 28)