Scientists for Labour conf on encryption/escrow/data protection Nov 14th

[Caspar Bowden <qualia@dircon.co.uk>]

Full details: http://www.shef.ac.uk/~sfl/meetings/itconf.html

		PLEASE DISTRIBUTE AND LINK TO YOUR WEB-SITE: 

	Scientists for Labour - IT & Communications Group    
	  Conference on Information Superhighway Policy 

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"Liberty on the Line : Opportunities and Dangers of the Superhighway" 
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	Chaired by Geoff Hoon MP, Shadow Minister for IT 

	Thursday 14th November 1996, 9am - 5:30pm 
	
	MSF Centre, 33-37 Moreland Street, London EC1 (Angel tube) 
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For further details or to reserve a place contact:
Caspar Bowden, SfL IT & Comms co-ordinator (qualia@dircon.co.uk)


The debate over Internet regulation in the UK has focused mainly on 
censorship, but the standards for control of "encryption keys", currently
being formulated nationally and internationally, will lay the permanent
foundations on which the Information Society is built. The long-term 
implications for civil liberties have received little public attention 
outside the Internet community.

Scientists for Labour is hosting a conference to look at the data protection 
and economic issues arising from the integration of digital signatures, 
electronic copyright management, and digital cash. What kind of regulatory 
apparatus will allow rapid growth of an information economy, but prevent 
misuse of personal data ? 

*) New government proposals on "Trusted Third Parties", which aim to preserve
   law enforcement and national security capabilities for warranted 
   interception of communications (to fight crime and terrorism), place only 
   procedural not technical limits on the scope of Superhighway surveillance. 

*) Super-computers have the potential to conduct random electronic "fishing 
   expeditions" against the whole population. Telephone and letter 
   interception cannot be automated : digital monitoring can. 

Will legal safeguards against abuse offer adequate protection in perpetuity, 
or can cryptographic protocols be designed which make Superhighway mass-
surveillance impossible, while still allowing criminals to be targeted ? 

Computer and legal policy experts will explain the principles of the 
different technologies, and the international and commercial context, in a 
search for interdisciplinary solutions. 

The attendance fee is ?5 (?2 unwaged ; SfL members free) 

For press information please contact : 
Bobbie Nicholls, SfL Press Officer, Fax: 01235 529172 

The Scientists for Labour home page (http://www.shef.ac.uk/~sfl/)
has information on how to join SfL, or contact the Secretary : 
Dr Robin Walters (R.G.Walters@shef.ac.uk) 


					Programme 
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9.00-9.30	Registration	SfL members free, non-members ?5 (?2 unwaged)

9.30-9.45	Geoff Hoon MP 	Introduction 

9.45-10.45	Dr.John Leach 	Cryptography and developments in Trusted Third
					Party policy

10.45-11.45	Dr.Ross Anderson	Some problems with the Trusted Third Party 
					programme 

11.45-12.00	Coffee	

12.00-12.30	Elizabeth France (Data Protection Registrar)

12.30-1.00	Simon Davies 	Escrow and the hidden threat to human rights
 					and privacy

1.00-2.00	Buffet lunch	

2.00-2.45	Prof. Charles 	Public policy and legal aspects of Intellectual
		Oppenheim 		Property Rights 

2:45-3.30	Alistair Kelman 	Electronic Copyright Management : 
					Possibilities and Problems
3.30-3.45	Tea	

3:45-4:45	Andrew Graham 	Will the Information Superhighway enhance or
					diminish democracy ? 

4.45-5.30	Panel Session	Discussion (inc. Robert Schifreen)
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