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NEWS AND COMMENT ON RECENT DEVELOPMENTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD1
CLSR Briefing
They can be instantly revoked with immediate system-wide effect. ViaCode encryption uses full-strength 128-bit cryptography.A secure key-backup and recovery facility means critical information, previously encrypted, is not lost in the event of a certificate being damaged or mislaid. Separate key pairs for encryption and signing mean ViaCode digital signatures are non-deniable. Editor's Note: A concise overview of the technology, security policies and procedures underpinning ViaCode is available on request. See further:.
Civil liberties groups outline opposition to Council of Europe computer crime convention Members of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC) have urged the Council of Europe to reconsider its draft Treaty on 'Cyber Crime'.The international coalition of civil liberties and human rights organizations said the proposal posed a threat to free speech and privacy on the Internet. The Council of Europe proposed the Cyber Crime Treaty in April 2000 as part of an effort to strengthen computer crime laws among many countries. The civil liberties organizations claim that the draft Treaty is "contrary to well established norms for the protection of the individual, that it improperly extends the police authority of national governments, that it will undermine the development of network security techniques, and that it will reduce government accountability in future law enforcement conduct". According to the organizations, the Convention on Cyber Crime would require Internet companies to retain records of customer activity and force Internet Service Providers to review private messages distributed through computer networks. The draft treaty would also criminalize copyright violations and discourage the development of new network security tools. Other sections would encourage law enforcement access to stored records and encryption keys without
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sufficient legal safeguards and expand surveillance powers. The Council of Europe had planned to finalize the convention by December 2000, but the opposition of citizen organizations may slow the process. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, DC, commented: " Government efforts to respond to computer crime must not undermine the political rights of Internet users. Before this Treaty proposal goes forward, the Council of Europe must assure the online community that privacy, freedom of expression, and due process of law will be protected." Editor's Note: The Global Internet Liberty Campaign is an international coalition of organizations working to protect and enhance online civil liberties and human rights. Links to member organizations, as well as information about GILC issues and activities, are available at:.
Danes build 'watertight' defence against Echelon spying threat A Scandinavian security company LASAT Networks - claims that it is one of only a few European companies to have developed hardware-based security solutions with no US involvement. The company claims that using European technology is the only way to guarantee that sensitive information is not intercepted by Echelon. Echelon is a network of spying stations in the UK and Greenland set up in the Cold War to eavesdrop on military communications between Eastern Block countries. The French, Danish and European Parliaments are currently investigating claims that the Americans are now using the satellite to facilitate industrial espionage against European competitors. Commenting, Rom Mendel, Product Line Manager at LASAT, said: "LASAT can guarantee that its technology has not been compromized by any intelligence agency, including those in the United States. As long as our products are configured correctly, LASAT
can provide the highest available level of security against Echelon. The perception out there is that it is impossible to implement IT security systems without using US technology. However, there are fewer pure play European products on the market and LASAT is proud to be one of the major players." The company claims that its software and hardware products are secured by the "highest known encryption standards", and that they are also based on the Linux kernel which is extensively "tried and tested by experts across the world including ex-hackers". Further information about LASAT is available at:. Editor's Note: Based in Denmark, LASAT Networks A/S is a developer and manufacturer of Internet connectivity and security products serving corporate business needs in Europe, the United States and a developing worldwide market.
Singapore establishes online mediation service The Singapore judiciary has established a free online mediation service entitled e@dr as an electronic dispute resolution service for commercial and Internetrelated disputes in Singapore. It would appear to be the first such judicial initiative in the world. Parties using the facility need not have any presence in or connection with Singapore but must consent to the jurisdiction of the e@dr center at the subordinate courts and have a mail address. Fees are payable only when the case is referred by the e@dr moderator to another forum such as the Singapore International Arbitration Center. All disputes arising out of E-commerce transactions can be resolved using the procedure. This includes disputes between businesses (B2B), consumers (C2C) and both (B2C or C2B). The types of disputes include consumer and contractual matters, and intellectual property rights. No action needs to be commenced in the courts before using e@dr. The Web site is at:. Kah Leng Ter, National University, Singapore.
They can be instantly revoked with immediate system-wide effect. ViaCode encryption uses full-strength 128-bit cryptography.A secure key-backup and recovery facility means critical information, previously encrypted, is not lost in the event of a certificate being damaged or mislaid. Separate key pairs for encryption and signing mean ViaCode digital signatures are non-deniable. Editor's Note: A concise overview of the technology, security policies and procedures underpinning ViaCode is available on request. See further:
Civil liberties groups outline opposition to Council of Europe computer crime convention Members of the Global Internet Liberty Campaign (GILC) have urged the Council of Europe to reconsider its draft Treaty on 'Cyber Crime'.The international coalition of civil liberties and human rights organizations said the proposal posed a threat to free speech and privacy on the Internet. The Council of Europe proposed the Cyber Crime Treaty in April 2000 as part of an effort to strengthen computer crime laws among many countries. The civil liberties organizations claim that the draft Treaty is "contrary to well established norms for the protection of the individual, that it improperly extends the police authority of national governments, that it will undermine the development of network security techniques, and that it will reduce government accountability in future law enforcement conduct". According to the organizations, the Convention on Cyber Crime would require Internet companies to retain records of customer activity and force Internet Service Providers to review private messages distributed through computer networks. The draft treaty would also criminalize copyright violations and discourage the development of new network security tools. Other sections would encourage law enforcement access to stored records and encryption keys without
72
sufficient legal safeguards and expand surveillance powers. The Council of Europe had planned to finalize the convention by December 2000, but the opposition of citizen organizations may slow the process. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center in Washington, DC, commented: " Government efforts to respond to computer crime must not undermine the political rights of Internet users. Before this Treaty proposal goes forward, the Council of Europe must assure the online community that privacy, freedom of expression, and due process of law will be protected." Editor's Note: The Global Internet Liberty Campaign is an international coalition of organizations working to protect and enhance online civil liberties and human rights. Links to member organizations, as well as information about GILC issues and activities, are available at:
Danes build 'watertight' defence against Echelon spying threat A Scandinavian security company LASAT Networks - claims that it is one of only a few European companies to have developed hardware-based security solutions with no US involvement. The company claims that using European technology is the only way to guarantee that sensitive information is not intercepted by Echelon. Echelon is a network of spying stations in the UK and Greenland set up in the Cold War to eavesdrop on military communications between Eastern Block countries. The French, Danish and European Parliaments are currently investigating claims that the Americans are now using the satellite to facilitate industrial espionage against European competitors. Commenting, Rom Mendel, Product Line Manager at LASAT, said: "LASAT can guarantee that its technology has not been compromized by any intelligence agency, including those in the United States. As long as our products are configured correctly, LASAT
can provide the highest available level of security against Echelon. The perception out there is that it is impossible to implement IT security systems without using US technology. However, there are fewer pure play European products on the market and LASAT is proud to be one of the major players." The company claims that its software and hardware products are secured by the "highest known encryption standards", and that they are also based on the Linux kernel which is extensively "tried and tested by experts across the world including ex-hackers". Further information about LASAT is available at:
Singapore establishes online mediation service The Singapore judiciary has established a free online mediation service entitled e@dr as an electronic dispute resolution service for commercial and Internetrelated disputes in Singapore. It would appear to be the first such judicial initiative in the world. Parties using the facility need not have any presence in or connection with Singapore but must consent to the jurisdiction of the e@dr center at the subordinate courts and have a mail address. Fees are payable only when the case is referred by the e@dr moderator to another forum such as the Singapore International Arbitration Center. All disputes arising out of E-commerce transactions can be resolved using the procedure. This includes disputes between businesses (B2B), consumers (C2C) and both (B2C or C2B). The types of disputes include consumer and contractual matters, and intellectual property rights. No action needs to be commenced in the courts before using e@dr. The Web site is at: