Security Expert - New E-mail Rules Infringe Civil Liberties of Citizen

Upcoming rules that mandate Internet service providers to maintain record of every outbound e-mail in the United Kingdom represent superfluous expenditures and an infringement of an individual's privacy, argues an Internet security expert, as reported by PRESSASSOCIATION on January 9, 2009.

From March 2009, all ISPs will be required to maintain data on all e-mails received and sent in the UK for one full year. Authorities will, however, not maintain the individual e-mail's content, but will have to keep record of the number and timing of every electronic communication.

Currently, all ISPs voluntarily maintain record of duplicates e-mails, but the new policies would not only imply that every ISP would need to store the new data, but they would also receive remuneration for spending their time. The cost estimated for this is anything between £25 Million and £70 Million.

However, there could be a better utilization of the estimated expenditure in connection with the regulation, said Dr. Richard Clayton, security researcher at the University of Cambridge, as reported by TIMES ONLINE on January 9, 2009. Clayton informed that there would be a record of each inbound e-mail addressed to the recipient and every e-mail the person sends via his ISP. This would also include all junk e-mails.

But some other critics said that this grade of e-mail data storage would mean intruding into the user's life all the time. People are worried about their e-mail activity, as it virtually exposes them to approximately 500 public authorities.

Meanwhile, as per the European Convention on Human Rights, right to privacy represents a fundamental right. Therefore, it is vital to safeguard this right as to recover it after one might lose it is very difficult. During 2007 and 2008, the loss of a series of extremely important databases beginning with the leakage of 25 Million confidential records from ministries and organizations of the government caused heavy losses.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Home Office is already arguing that monitoring e-mail communications is crucial to counter terrorist plots and cyber crime.

Related article: Securities Push Up A Must For Web Companies

» SPAMfighter News - 1/23/2009