Research Analyst, Information Design, Nokia Networks
http://www.infomanagementcenter.com-->
Wendy Grossman reports in the September 2001 issue
of Scientific American, in an article entitled
"Surveillance by Design," that the US Justice
Department and the Council of Europe are currently
developing a cyber crime treaty that would require
ISPs in the United States and Europe to maintain
logs of users' activities for up to seven years
and to keep their networks tappable. The rationale
for this is to protect us from cyber crime.
However, it would be a clear violation of the
first and fourth amendments of the US
Constitution. But because no US law is required
for implementation of a treaty, it will bypass the
protection of the US Bill of Rights.
Under this treaty, everything you do on the
Internet will be available to the US federal
government and the governments of Europe. Grossman
points out that this treaty would be the Internet
equivalent of legally requiring valid return
addresses on all postal mail, installing cameras
in all phone booths, and making all cash
traceable. As more and more information about us
travels through the Internet, our governments will
be able to develop accurate information about our
lifestyles, our medical histories, and our
communication profiles.
You can get more information about the US Justice
Department's take on this from their Web site.
Beware!
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