IT directors and professional bodies are calling on the main
political parties to kick-start the broadband rollout, clear up
data protection and privacy legislation and raise awareness of
security issues when the party conference season starts next
week.
David Roberts, chief executive of The Infrastructure Forum, is
disappointed with the political focus on creating a broadband
infrastructure. "Whatever's going on appears to be stifling
[broadband progress] and we're really disadvantaged compared to
Europe."
Roberts urged the parties to do more to raise the general awareness
of IT security issues and to adopt a more international outlook.
He also accused the Government of underestimating the danger posed
by electronic fraud and the dissemination of viruses, particularly
by organised criminals.
Greater urgency on broadband roll-out was the key priority for
Philip Virgo, strategic adviser to the Institute for the Management
of Information Systems. He also called for more co-operation
between government and the private sector to minimise opportunities
for e-crime.
Jeremy Beale, head of e-business at the Confederation of British
Industry, called for a more realistic view of the value of
e-business and its continued importance to the health of the
economy.
Beale urged the parties to develop a greater sensitivity and
understanding of the need to engage more widely with industry on
key areas like security. He hoped the communications watchdog Ofcom
would be more innovative and supportive of new communications such
as broadband.
A common complaint raised by industry bodies and IT directors was
the confusion surrounding conflicting legislation on issues such as
data protection, IT security, and privacy.
"The majority of IT directors I know are confused as to where their
responsibilities lie," said David Taylor, president of IT
directors' group Certus.