FIPR: Foundation for Information Policy Research

Policy Watch Archive

The following are older news articles. Unfortunately the policywatch service has been reduced due to resource constraints. However various FIPR-related articles are available on the policywatch.html page.

Note: These links will take you to sites outside of the FIPR domain. The documents listed are from sites that archive their documents, and that do not require registration prior to usage.

UK Electronic Commerce, Cryptography Policy, and Regulation:

BBC: Internet Encryption divides America, September 2, 1999.
Wired: Ontario Promotes Private Crypto, August 6, 1999.
TechWeb: Australia Asks For Ban On E-Commerce Tariffs, July 15, 1999
Wired: E-Commerce Hole Exposed, May 7, 1999
BBC: UK 'lacks urgency' over e-commerce, August 9, 1999.
Sunday Times: Is the government doing enough for electronic commerce? YES writes Patricia Hewitt, August 1, 1999.

Sunday Times: Is the government doing enough for e-commerce? NO writes Caspar Bowden, August 1, 1999.
CNN: Use encryption, go to jail?, July 29, 1999.
FreedomForum: Draft UK Law would pry open encrypted emails, July 27, 1999.
FT: Government softens e-trading bill, July 24, 1999.
BBC: UK e-commerce bill out, July 23, 1999.
Wired: UK E-commerce: Mind the Gap, July 20, 1999.
BBC: UK to publish e-commerce bill, July 16, 1999.
Computer Weekly: Tory block leaves e-Bill at T-junction, July 15, 1999.
Computer Weekly: The dangers of a big bang approach, July 15, 1999.
Computer Weekly: Duncan drubs all-encompassing e-Bill, July 15, 1999.
Times: Letter by Michael Wills, MP -- Net profit and lost innocence, May 19, 1999
TechWeb: UK Panel Attacks European Internet Snooping, May 20, 1999
BBC: E-commerce blueprint under fire, May 19, 1999
BBC: The tough task of hunting the bombers, April 30, 1999
TechWeb: Campaigners: No Need for UK Escrow Powers, April 16, 1999
BBC: E-trade stuck at EU borders, April 12, 1999
TechWeb: UK Fears Key Escrow by Stealth, March 24, 1999
BBC: Encryption debate hots up, March 24, 1999
BBC: UK 'struggling with Internet encryption', March 18, 1999
Wired: UK may loosen crypto controls, March 11, 1999
ZDNetUK: Escrow time line draws fire from think-tank, March 8, 1999
BBC: Policy Progress -- Special Report, March 5, 1999
TechWeb: New UK Key Escrow Policy Awaits Comments, March 5, 1999
BBC: UK loses e-commerce keys, March 5, 1999
BBC: Blair 'backing down on net snoops', updated March 5, 1999
FIPR Press Release: Tony Blair: "Key escrow is not the answer", March 4, 1999

General Notes on Electronic Commerce, Cryptography Policy, and Regulation:

BBC: Internet Encryption divides America, September 2, 1999.
Wired: Ontario Promotes Private Crypto, August 6, 1999.
TechWeb: Australia Asks For Ban On E-Commerce Tariffs, July 15, 1999
Wired: E-Commerce Hole Exposed, May 7, 1999
BBC: Euro e-trade rules agreed, May 7, 1999
NY Times: Gun Measure Would Focus Internet Sales, April 27, 1999 -- requires free registration
NY Times: European Union Advances E-Commerce Policies , April 26, 1999 -- requires free registration
Telegraph: MEPs reject email tapping plan, April 22, 1999
CNet: EU ministers to rule on e-commerce measures, April 19, 1999
Wired: Crypto Cabal: Make Code Not Guns, April 8, 1999
Wired: McCain Offers Crypto Compromise, April 1, 1999
CNet: Digital signature bill hits Congress, March 26, 1999
CNN/IDG: Visa: E-commerce is major fraud source, March 26, 1999
Wired: Step two for encryption bill, March 24, 1999
BBC: UK business gets the Net, March 17, 1999
CNET: Senator wants Net gun sales restricted, March 17, 1999
BBC: Royal Mail posts e-commerce first, March 16, 1999
CNN: Euro to aid E-commerce, experts say, March 8, 1999
BBC: Are we ready for e-shopping?, March 4, 1999
BBC: Is e-shopping safe?, March 4, 1999
CNET: Lawmakers take up crypto, child safety, March 4, 1999
BBC: Encryption Key would lock up criminals, March 2, 1999
BBC: Internet 'will boost crime', March 2, 1999
Industry Standard: Why E-commerce Forecasters Don’t Get It "Right", March 1, 1999
CNet: House tries crypto bill again, February 25, 1999
ZDNetUK IT Week: US weighs in over Labour e-trade plans, February 19, 1999
Wired: Legal Swamp for Euro E-Commerce, February 18, 1999
BBC Online: Business: The Company File - Branson's Ł50m Net blitz, February 17, 1999
CNET: Net privacy protection measures proposed, February 16, 1999
BBC News: Business fights e-trade inertia, February 4, 1999
ComputerWeekly: Key escrow could kill bill, February 4, 1999
Bloomberg News: Software firms become crypto lobbyists, February 4, 1999
CNN: Microsoft's Gates warns on government intervention, February 1, 1999
National Criminal Intelligence Service Press Release: NCIS calls upon Government to ensure law enforcement powers do not fall behind technology in fight against "crypto criminals", January 28, 1999
Times Opinion Piece: The Government is running scared over electronic trade - it is using the war on crime as an excuse to snoop on us all through our computers, January 19, 1999
Le Monde: France renounces controls on Internet communications, January 21, 1999. See the French Prime Minister's announcement.
BBC News: Are we ready to shop?, December 16, 1999

Interception of Communications

Observer: E-squad launched to crack criminal codes on the net, September 5, 1999.
The Silicon: Wire-tapping Laws Set To Cost UK ISPs millions, August 20, 1999.
CNN: Feds want authority to secretly crack personal computer codes, August 20, 1999.
BBC: Don't eavesdrop on staff, firms told, August 20, 1999.
MSNBC: AT&T-BT deal gets review, August 16, 1999.
Economist: A snooper's charter, August 14, 1999.
ABC News: Big Brother Is Listening But Is He Breaking the Law When He Does It? July 27, 1999.
National Post (Canada): Tiny TMI trapped in FBI's national security web, July 16, 1999.
TechWeb: RUSSIAN ISP SAYS "NYET" TO SPYING, July 26, 1999.
Guardian: Straw insists on e-mail interception powers, July 23, 1999.
Wired: Spying on the Spies, May 10, 1999
Telepolis: SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: ILETS AND THE ENFOPOL 98 AFFAIR, April 30, 1999
Guardian Online: Intercepting the Internet, April 29, 1999
Observer: Revealed : secret plan to tap all mobile phones, December 6, 1998
Telepolis: The European Secret Service Union, November 30, 1998
Telepolis: The European Surveillance Union, November 20, 1998

Export Controls:

Wired: Tax Break for Snoopable Code, July 30, 1999.

Wired: Report: Crypto will harm society, July 27, 1999.
USIS: Divisive Encryption Export Decontrol Bill Moving to Full House, July 21, 1999.
CNet: Crypto export limits ruled unconstitutional, May 6, 1999
Wired: Landmark Ruling on Encryption, May 6, 1999
TechWeb: U.S. Export Controls Sway China On Joint Venture, April 21, 1999
IDGnet: Group offers free Linux-based encryption software, April 21, 1999
CNET: Portal to connect China, US merchants, April 11, 1999
CNET Bloomberg: VeriSign OK'd for strong crypto exports, March 8, 1999
Wired News: Foreign Policy, Tech Collide, February 25, 1999
CNET: Versecure gets US approval, January 18, 1999
CNN: German developer releases free 128-bit encryption software, January 14, 1999
CNET: New move to ease encryption limits, January 15, 1999
CNN: RSA tries Australian end-run around U.S. encryption laws. See RSA's Press Release of January 6, 1999
CNN: Congress considers easing cryptography rules, January 21, 1999

Privacy and Data Protection:

CNet: Online adds may track more than you know, August 20, 1999.
CNet: Report; Net users wary of Web sites, August 17, 1999.
NY Times: Author of Computer Surveillance Plan Tries to Ease Fears, August 16, 1999.
TechWeb: Justice Dept. Barred From Spending On Network, July 30, 1999.
BBC: World: Americas US cyber-security plan under attack, July 28, 1999.
NY Times: U.S. Drafting Plan for Computer Monitoring System, July 28, 1999. Requires Free Registration.
CNet: FBI surveillance proposal put to privacy test, July 29, 1999.
Wired: FTC says hands-off net privacy, July 12, 1999.
CNN: U.S. Supreme Court takes up driver's license data privacy, May 21, 1999
CNET: Netmarket exposes customer order data, May 10, 1999
The Economist: The Surveillance Society, April 30, 1999 -- may require registration
CNET: AOL, others get break from relaxed EU laws, April 30, 1999
Wired: Deja News Backtracks on Tracking, April 30, 1999
CNN: 45% of big firms monitor workers, April 21, 1999
Wired: EU-US still stuck on privacy laws, April 21, 1999
CNN: U.S. government proposes child privacy Web rules, April 20, 1999
CNet: Novell says software offers plenty privacy, April 21, 1999
CNET: Yahoo asked to reveal user names, again, April 12, 1999
Wired: Your data, your choice, March 24, 1999
Wired: Whose right to know?, March 18, 1999
CNET/Bloomberg: US, EU still wrangling over privacy, March 17, 1999
CNET: Excite security hole open for months, March 17, 1999
CNET: Firms develop privacy seal of approval, March 11, 1999
CNET: Macromedia patching Shockwave privacy hole, March 11, 1999
Wired: Privacy's Protector Makes Debut, March 5, 1999
Wired News: House OKs Wireless Privacy Bill, February 25, 1999
BBC Online: 'Alarming' threat to workplace privacy, February 18, 1999
CNN: Bill raises risk of violating medical privacy, physicians' groups say, July 22, 1999.
CNN: Parents hesitant toward DNA identity plan, March 14, 1999
CNET: House to probe Net pharmacies, March 3, 1999
Wired News: Medical Records Exposed, February 8, 1999

Freedom of Speech and Information:

Wired: Struggle Ends Over 'Mein Kampf', August 20, 1999.
Wired: The Net: Enemy of the State?, August 12, 1999.
CNet: "Family friendly" ISP in pornography flap, July 21, 1999.
Wired: Report: Mideast Misses the Net, July 8, 1999
BBC: Net will be death of MI6 - Tomlinson, May 20, 1999
.
ZDnews: Did the Internet contribute to Littleton?, April 27, 1999
Wired: Washington: The Net Must Pay, April 27, 1999
FreedomForum: Other side of Littleton story: anti-oddball hysteria, April 26, 1999
CNN: AOL contacts FBI about school shooting warnings, April 21, 1999
BBC: Royal warning on Internet porn, April 20, 1999
Techweb/Reuters: U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Computer Indecency Law, April 19, 1999
CNN: No-smut e-mail law upheld, April 19, 1999
Wired: Porn industry knows its worth, April 13, 1999
Wired: Do media make the killer?, April 13, 1999
BBC: Tiananmen protests hit the Net, April 10, 1999
Wired: Miffed Judge Subpoenas AOL, April 9, 1999
FreedomForum: Balkans-related sites offer images, analysis online, April 2, 1999
BBC Online: Kosovo-Conflict on the web, March 29, 1999
CNN/IDG: Belgrade independent radio moves to Net, March 26, 1999
Wired: Sweeping UK Net Libel Decision, March 26, 1999
BBC: ISP loses defence in libel battle, March 26, 1999
Wired: Kosovo won't be televised, March 24, 1999
Wired: Yugoslav Free Radio Shut Down, March 24, 1999
BBC: ISP loses defence in libel battle, March 26, 1999
Wired: Kosovo won't be televised, March 24, 1999
Wired: Yugoslav Free Radio Shut Down, March 24, 1999
Wired: Aussies Sound Smut Alert, March 19, 1999
Wired: Net journalists outwit censors, March 13, 1999
CNET: Abortion site causes free speech firestorm, March 12, 1999
CNET: Net filter firms, libraries seek truce, March 12, 1999
Wired: Israeli Court Freezes Sex Domain, March 12, 1999
Wired: Net Rumours Fry Stock Guru, March 9, 1998
CNET: Journalist sentenced in child porn case, March 8, 1999
BBC: Child porn turns to Chat, March 1, 1999
CNET: Agency Frowns on Net Filtering, February 17, 1999
CNET: Virginia cracks down on sexual content, February 11, 1999
New York Times: Court upholds pornography ban, February 12, 1999 (NOTE: Requires free subscription for access)
CNN: Pentagon reassesses what to make available on its Web sites, February 16, 1999
Wired News: Chemical Plants Under Wraps, February 10, 1999 (about not releasing reports on Plant-safety on the Internet due to fear of terrorism
BBC News: Polluting Factories listed on Internet, February 8, 1999
BBC News: China casts a cyber net, February 7, 1999
BBC News: Can the Net be Policed?, February 3, 1999
Judge Reed's decision on the Child Online Protection Act, February 1, 1999
CNET: US Abortion Site ruling, February 2, 1999
CNN: China shuts down popular Internet forum, February 5, 1999

Social Inclusion, Education, and Costs of Connecting:

CNet: The path to free Net access in Europe, August 12, 1999.
TechWeb: UK's Freedom Joins Free Internet Race, July 23, 1999.
BBC: Free ISPs give UK the lead, May 7, 1999
CNet: European PC sales surge, May 6, 1999
BBC: Mirror mirrors free Internet offers, April 30, 1999
Wired: Free ISPs Storm Europe, April 30, 1999
BBC: Landmark Net deal for UK, April 29, 1999
BBC: Free Euro Net access, April 28, 1999
BBC: UK Wising Up to the Web, April 26, 1999
CNN: Students are not choosing high-tech educations, study says, April 26, 1999
BBC: Blunkett promises help for 'information poor', March 12, 1999
BBC: Ł1.7bn investment in computers, March 9, 1999
Wired: Brits on Net: Jolly Good, March 3, 1999
Wired: The Most Wired Nation on Earth, a report on Canada's budget for wiring the country, February 17, 1999
CNN/IDG: Can e-rate make the grade? Federal program to wire schools for Internet access so far has generated little more than paperwork and delays, February 16, 1999
CNN/IDG: Opinion -- Execs need to teach teachers about IT, February 15, 1999

Miscellaneous:

MSNBC: Unsolicited e-mail targets in America in first cyberwar, April 8, 1999
BBC Online: Kosovo info warfare spreads, April 1, 1999
CNET: Notes Bug exposes email messages, March 24, 1999
BBC: Trojan Horse Program Steals Passwords, March 24, 1999
CNET: FCC fights to retain regulatory power, March 17, 1999
BBC: Opposition grows to web caching ban, March 17, 1999
CNN/IDG: Opinion: Europeans are on the move in U.S. data markets, March 13, 1999
Wired: FCC: Net Shall Remain Free, March 12, 1999
BBC: Opposition grows to web caching ban, March 17, 1999
CNN/IDG: Opinion: Europeans are on the move in U.S. data markets, March 13, 1999
Wired: FCC: Net Shall Remain Free, March 12, 1999
Wired: Computer Crime Costs a Bundle, March 5, 1999
TechWeb: Computer Security Threat Rises, March 5, 1999
Feed: Getting what you pay for, March 5, 1999
Wired: Anti-Privacy Bank Rules Crushed, March 5, 1999
Wired: Big Brother at the Bank?, February 20, 1999
CNN/AP: Cohen says high-tech industries should thank military for success, February 19, 1999
CNET/Reuters: Cohen: Tech prosperity built on peace, February 19, 1999
CNN/AP: Cohen visits Microsoft to tout military's role in economic security, February 18, 1999
TechWeb: Defense Secretary Defends Microsoft, February 19, 1999

Case: Microsoft and Privacy

Wired: Microsoft Patches Privacy Holes, March 19, 1999
Wired: MS Admits to Privacy Blunder, March 12, 1999
Wired: Is Microsoft tracking visitors?, March 12, 1999
CNET: New security hole found in Windows 98, March 10, 1999
CNET: Microsoft confirms Windows NT glitch, March 10, 1999
ZDNetUK: Privacy groups to take on Microsoft?, March 10, 1999
CNN: Microsoft's GUID sparks fears of privacy invasion, March 8, 1999
BBC: MS tries to defuse privacy concerns, March 8, 1999
Wired: Sniffing out MS Security Glitch, March 8, 1999
CNET: Microsoft Admits privacy problem, plans fix, March 7, 1999

Case: Inside Intel:

CNET: Pentium III -- how bad is the privacy threat?, March 26, 1999
CNET: Symantec offers security for Pentium III, March 19, 1999
CNET: FTC "considering" Pentium III probe, March 17, 1999
CNET: Canadian Software claims to undo Pentium III fix, March 10, 1999
CNET: Intel privacy flap spreads to notebooks, March 10, 1999
CNET: Movement to halt Pentium III grows, March 5, 1999
CNET: PC makers deal with ID security flap, February 25, 1999
MSNBC: Intel won't back down on chip ID February 24, 1999
CNET: Intel downplays chip hack report, February 24, 1999
Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK) Press Statment: CR&CL(UK) issues a report on Intel and privacy concerns, February 24, 1999
Wired News: Privacy Hack on Pentium III, February 23, 1999
BBC Online: PIII pre-launch privacy fears, February 17, 1999
CNET: Critics may try to widen Intel boycott, February 16, 1999
CNET: PIII previews amid muted enthusiasm, February 17, 1999
CNN/IDG: Opinion -- Privacy aside, why chip IDs are a bad idea, February 16, 1999
Intel Press Room announcement of chip ID numbers, January 20, 1999
CNET: Intel exec envisions "the trusted PC", January 20, 1999
MSNBC: Intel plans to build encryption into future generations of chips, January 18, 1999
Information site on the Intel initiative, organised by EPIC, Junkbusters, and Privacy International
Red Herring: May I see your CPU, please?, January 20, 1999

Special: Microsoft and CryptoAPI

TechWeb: Privacy Groups Dismiss Microsoft NSA Denial, September 6, 1999.
Wired: Debate flares over MS 'Spy Key', September 4, 1999.
NY Times: A Mysterious Component Roils Microsoft, September 4, 1999.
CNN: NSA key to Windows: An open question, September 3, 1999.
TechWeb: NSA Builds Security Access Into Windows, September 3, 1999.
Microsoft: Microsoft Says Speculation About Security and NSA Is "Inaccurate and Unfounded", September 3, 1999.
BBC: Windows 'back door' security alert, September 3, 1999.
Wired: Does Windows Contain Spy Key?, September 3, 1999.
CNet: Expert allegedly reveals security breach in Windows, September 3, 1999.
Slashdot: NSA backdoor creates security hole in Windows, September 3, 1999.

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Last Revised: September 25 1999