Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Escrow rejected by UK Select Comittee

Posted by Hemos on from the smart-government dept.

evilandi writes "This BBC article reports on how the UK Trade and Industry Select Committee have condemned the British government over the proposed E-Commerce Bill. Now that Key Escrow has been 99% dropped, they don't see the point of the bill at all, they're "disappointed that the government should still hold a candle for key escrow", and they're concerned about proposed changes to the Interception of Communications Act (tapping). See also stand.org.uk " Wow-intelligent officials. Someone pinch me.

2 of 33 comments (clear)

  1. Mandate Encryption Technology by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5

    Everyone's going the wrong way with this.

    What we need to be doing is mandating the use of strong encryption, at least to companies expecting to do business with the government. Application used by the government should have strong encryption options where applicable. This should drive the adoption of strong cryptography in the private sector. Any government outside the USA concerned about USA spying should be very interested in getting the general population to adopt encryption technology. Otherwise US companies will continue to win those huge contracts with bids only barely lower than their European counterparts. ;-)

  2. Link to the full committee report: by HugoRune · · Score: 5
    The full report from the committe is at:
    http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/ pa/cm199899/cmselect/cmtrdind/187/18702. htm

    One of the best quotes is: "Although DTI has been willing to listen to what industry and others have had to say about cryptography, we have gained the impression that they have not, until recently, taken much notice of what has been said to them."