IP: European Justice and Home Affairs Council considerspreventive measures against Echelon

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

 >
 > European Justice and Home Affairs Council considers preventive
 > measures against Echelon
 >
 > Jelle van Buuren   30.05.2000
 >
 > Technical working group asked to look into measures to prevent abuse
 > of interception of telecommunications
 >
 > The European Council on Justice and Home Affairs discussed yesterday
 > during lunch Echelon, the Anglo-American spying network that
 > according to reports of the European Parliament is being used to
 > intercept sensitive economical and political communication.
 >
 > Although the European ministers of Justice said hard proof is failing
 > for the accusations, they are worried about the possible misuse of
 > electronic spionage. ' While telecommunication interception may be an
 > important tool in combatting crime or for the defence of national
 > security, in no case may it be used to gain commercial advantage,'
 > according to the Council.
 >
 > The ministers decided to install a technical working group, which has
 > to investigate if 'technical measures', like strong encryption, are
 > possible to prevent the misuse of intercepted material. The Council
 > hailed the initiative of the European Commission to bring forward
 > appropriate measures for 'achieving a more secure information
 > society'. Further, it instructed Council working parties to encourage
 > 'preventive measures which may protect against the abuse of new
 > technologies.'
 >
 > Dutch minister of Justice Benk Korthals said to the Dutch press there
 > was no real proof of spying, but it was better to take preventive
 > measures. He asked for further studies on the possibility to make
 > international rules regarding the interception of telecommunications.
 > Also, he warned for the possibility organised crime would get the
 > technical possibilities to intercept satellite communications.