The UK government is succeeding in its aim of setting a global example on e-commerce. Unfortunately, the latest example is of how not to regulate this sector. Other countries, watching the way business reacts to e-commerce legislation in the UK and Ireland, will be much more likely to follow the lead of Dublin rather than London. The Home Office insists the new measure, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers bill, simply updates existing powers to tap telephones.
Covert surveillance is an important weapon in the fight against serious crime.
This is a powerful argument. But the bill that springs from it is seriously flawed. Unless the government listens to the wide array of RIP critics, it risks inflicting damage on business interests and civil liberties alike. The most immediate industry casualties of the bill are internet service providers, who will have to offer a permanent interception capability. The government has yet to decide what technology it will impose.