IP: Times 25/6/2001: "CBI attacks EU Net 'log' plans"

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/0,,5-2001213193,00.html
> CBI attacks EU Net 'log' plans
>
> BY LEA PATERSON
>
> PLANS by Brussels to force Internet service providers (ISPs), such as BT
> and AOL, to store detailed logs of their customers' Web activities have
> been condemned by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) as "a
> retrograde step" that could compromise privacy and damage e-commerce.
> The CBI will today give warning that planned amendments to the
> telecommunications data protection directive - likely to be approved on
> Wednesday - risk undermining trust and confidence in e-commerce and
> could ultimately reduce investment in the Web.
>
> Under proposals to be discussed in Brussels, ISPs will be obliged to
> keep records of the websites that their customers visit, log the time
> spent on the Net and retain details of e-mail recipients.
>
> Nigel Hickson, the head of e-business at the CBI, urged Douglas
> Alexander, Minister for E-commerce, to vote against the proposals.
>
> Mr Hickson said: "To impose a blanket requirement on operators would be
> costly and would call into question trust in e-commerce."
>
> He added: "We believe this will discourage investment in e-commerce in
> the EU."
>
> The EU's Telecommunications Council convenes to discuss the planned
> amendment on Wednesday.



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