Consumer groups and trade associations have reacted with anger and concern over legislation proposed last week which will allow the UK police to intercept email and other net communications for crime-prevention purposes. Chris Ellison, founder of the campaign group Internet Freedom, described the proposals, which would force ISPs to hand over personal information about their customers, as a substantial attack on the liberties of internet users.
The UK’s Internet Service Providers Association treated the consultation document issued last week with more caution. ISPA is concerned that ISPs will have to pick up the bill for installing the hardware and software required to allow interceptions. Nicholas Lansmann, ISPA’s secretary general, said: Our concern is that, while the large ISPs will be able to afford it, smaller ones may not. It is not yet clear whether ISPs will be overburdened. The group will meet with government officials next week to express their concerns.
Ellison, meanwhile, blames ISPs that were willing to self-regulate and agree to allow tapping in August last year. He said: At the time, the trade organizations argued that informal arrangements were preferable to the sledgehammer of legislation. Now we can see that one is the product of the other.
