Internet Service Providers (ISPs), already struggling with the cost
of adhering to the Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act,
look set to face more expense when new anti-terror proposals become
law.
Home Secretary David Blunkett announced in parliament that new laws
would mean ISPs would have to retain information on the source and
destination of email messages.
This extra requirement to store data, for a still unspecified
amount of time, compounds the cost to business of intercepting data
as required under Section 12 of the RIP Act.
A report by the British Chambers of Commerce already puts the cost
to British ISPs of intercepting data at an astonishing £640m over a
five-year period.
Roger Till, director of the e-business standards organisation,
e.centre, said: "It looks like ISPs are set to incur yet more costs
which will further demoralise the industry. The e.centre legal team
is already consulting with the Home Office over the RIP Act and we
will be immediately seeking a new meeting over this development.
The Home Office must consult more with industry on this matter. We
support any moves to tackle terrorism but there must be a
balance."
The Internet Services Providers Association (ISPA) is keen to
secure clarification on a number of points before consulting with
the government on the issue of data retention.
The organisation's secretary general, Nicholas Lansman, said: "ISPA
believes a number of complex issues must be addressed during the
forthcoming consultation, such as the definition of traffic data,
the practical aspects of data handover and compliance with data
protection law."
A spokesman for the Communication Managers Association (CMA) added:
"It's too early to say what the impact of these new laws will be,
but they seem to extend the requirements of the RIP Act.
Communications managers are, however, happy to do what is necessary
to help protect our freedoms."
But civil liberties groups are concerned at the impact of the
proposed new laws. Caspar Bowden, director of the Internet think
tank the Foundation for Information Policy Research, has warned
that the new laws could be extended to allow data to be used to
tackle "minor crimes, public order and tax offences," as well as
international terrorism.