[1334] in cryptography@c2.net mail archive
Statement on internet, cryptography, etc. from European Comission
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Tatu Ylonen)
Thu Aug 14 20:30:03 1997
Date: Fri, 15 Aug 1997 02:31:41 +0300 (EET DST)
From: Tatu Ylonen <ylo@ssh.fi>
To: cryptography@c2.net
Walter de Bakker from the European Comission made a speech at the
IETF, saying he was speaking on behalf of the European Comission. My
understanding is that this was an official statement by the Comission.
The speech also touched cryptography, first noting that data security
is needed, and then said "strong encryption is necessary for
electronic commerce <strong applauds from the audience>, within limits
of applicable law for cryptographic products".
After the speech, Marc Blanchet asked a question (not exactly these
words, but this message)
Question: The statement said that strong cryptography is needed for electronic
commerce; is it ok for everyone to use it for any purpose?
Answer: yes.
Continuing question: Will EU enforce it on countries?
Answer: all countries signed it (otherwise no clear answer)
On content regulation, the speech emphasized self-regulation by the
internet community and encouraging use of existing filtering software
and rating systems. Copyright and trademark issues were mentioned.
The comission will emphasize application of existing laws within the
internet.
My quick-and-dirty notes from the session are included below.
Tatu
European Union / Walter de Bakker
14.8.1997 IETF Munich
Speaking on behalf of European Comission
Policy issues:
- comission has track record telecommunications policy
- liberalization and deregulation
- soon completely open and competitive market (as far as the
rules are concerned)
- internet is not traditional telecommunications
- internet is entirely different (architecture, technical standards,
range of applications)
- EC recognizes differences, but also similarties: badwidth,
authentication, directories, competion
- encourages system of self-regulation based on concensus
- has been from beginning
- success story
- areas where self-regulation isn't sufficient
- dns: dispute resolution for e.g. trademark
- support good long-term solutions rather than
quick-and-dirty
- protection of intellectual property
- allocation of domain names must take into account
established rights to trademarks
- preregistration procedures for worldwide trademark
databases
- copyright in electronic communications
- earlier this year: report published on intellectual property
rights and
- internet content issues
- has attracted lots of political attention recently
- communication to parlament about harmful and illegal content
- green paper coming: the protection of minds and human dignity
- ensure application of existing laws
- strengthened cooperation between member states on enforcing
these laws
- should encourage existing filtering software and rating systems
- internet and research community:
- continues to be a major priority for internet policies in europe
- supported in telematics programs (shift towards application
side)
- act programs (IP, QoS, etc.)
- w3c receives support from european comission
- fifth framework program (five-year program on R&D)
- information and society (research and development on that)
- separate subject for support to reseach community
- yet separate subchapter for support for research network
- electronic commerce
- possibility for industry doing massive business on internet
- ministers considering implications of electronic commerce on
global networks
- four objectives:
- reliable infrstructure for business
- neutral tax environment
- reasonable business environment
- data protection
- technical standards
- maximum resort to voluntary industry self-regulation
- network/access providers should not be resposible for content
- support free flow of information (within laws)
- data security is needed
- in particular, "strong encryption is necessary for
electronic commerce" within the limits of applicable law for
cryptographic products
- need for closer dialog between internet and governments
- Questions:
- US internet2 project; will EC help internet infrastructure
development in similar ways?
- Marc Blanchet: statement said that strong cryptography is needed for
electronic commerce; is it ok for everyone to use it for any
purpose? Answer: yes. Question: will EU enforce it on
countries? Answer: all countries signed it (otherwise no
clear answer)
- Question about education:
big emphasis on internet and using multimedia
- declaration will be included in the proceedings (on web and hardcopy)
(content/cryptography, not sure)
- why internet is developing very fast in some countries,
e.g. Finland, and lagging behind in e.g. France and Greece?
There are developmental funds that may help here.
- content vs. national boundaries - nature of tradeoffs in
previous legislation harmonization work?
- internet self-regulation can be world-wide
- comission can act when there are clear conflicts in law
- reliance on global organizations, e.g. IPO
- "internet not suitable for file transfer, should use ISDN"
said a month ago... Situation with PTTs and ISPs fighting
with each other?
- all resources in the last 3 years have been concentrated on
making the telecommunications market free. Everything will
be ready at end of this year.
- internet coming up has been a suprise during this work
- "let it go since it is going so well", but let us know to
learn each other better
A full copy of the statement will be included in the conference
proceedings.
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