WIKIUser:OwenBlacker/Agenda
Open Rights Group Policy Review - November 2006
Priority 1 Issues
These are the top priority issues for ORG to take action on over the next six to twelve months.
1. Term Extension/Gowers Review 2. Evoting 3. Television Without Frontiers
Copyright Term Extension/Gowers Review
The Gowers Review of intellectual property has now been published, and has made some 54 recommendations for national government, European government and international bodies such as the WTO. The report must now be fully analysed and recommendations followed. We must also continue campaigning as the music industry is itself continuing to lobby in an attempt to marginalise the Gowers Review and persuade MPs that they should vote against Gowers' recommendations on retaining the term of copyright protection on sounds recordings at 50 years.
ACTIONS: The Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust funded ORG's Release The Music campaign, which was undoubtedly a success. We now need to work on a follow-on campaign plan.
UPDATE: We are investigating working with PD Burn, to make a catalogue of public domain sound recordings, which could eventually be turned into a free download site or similar social enterprise, creating a real world example of the potential of the public domain. On the policy side, we are working to identify potential partner organisations for action at the EU level, including the National Consumer Council. We have been invited to talk to the Intellectual Property & Innovation Directorate at the Patent Office (Thursday 1 March) and will be using their consultations [1] in 2007 to influence policy.
Evoting
The government have decided to run another set of evoting pilots at the elections in May. Local authorities were invited to apply for an evoting pilot in November 06, with decisions made at the beginning of December as to which authorities would be granted money for a pilot - they currently receive less than 53p per person to run an election so the money aspect is attractive, despite a lack of IT experience and resources in local government. Technology must then be developed and tested prior to elections in May.
Jason Kitcat is ORG's Evoting Co-Ordinator, working with Ian Brown, Louise Ferguson and Suw Charman to put together a campaign on this issue. Events are already being planned for February, including a public event, a screening for MPs of the HBO documentary Hacking Democracy, and a workshop for those involved in evoting.
There is much recent activity abroad to draw upon, including case studies from America, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Italy. The case for evoting being made in the UK is that it is 'modern'.
ACTIONS: Put together a campaign plan and apply for funding from JRRT.
UPDATE: The Hacking Democracy screening took place in the week of 5 February at UCL, and included a panel discussion with Russel Michaels (the director of the film), Rebecca Mercuri (a US e voting expert) and John Pugh MP (Liberal Democrats). Although turnout was low, the audience were highly engaged. That week also saw a European e-voting Activist workshop, and an evening lecture. The suite of events generated significant coverage in the specialist press. A six month campaign coinciding with the May pilots has been planned, and a funding application for £24,000 is currently with JRRT for consideration. We have met with the DCA, with a meeting also scheduled with the Electoral Commission. Jason and Becky attended the Association of Electoral Administrators' annual conference on 26 February, meeting suppliers and inspecting their products. Significant interest from the national and international media is growing.
Television Without Frontiers
This is an EU directive designed to impose TV regulation on the internet. Would include mandated percentage of EU-sourced works, parental controls, limitations on frequency of adverts. The UK government is against this directive, with Shaun Woodward successfully lobbying to get the proposals watered down (see http://www.out-law.com/default.aspx?page=7488 ).
ACTIONS: Need to do more research and put together a campaign plan and, possibly, apply for funding.
UPDATE: Preliminary contact with OfCom negotiating team established, but no significant action taken. To discuss further at AC meeting.
Priority 2 Issues
These are issues that ORG will work on over the next six to twelve months if resource are available.
4. National Vehicle Tracking Database 5. Network Level Content Blocking 6. Data Retention
National Vehicle Tracking Database
A national network of GATSO and CCTV cameras are being connected to automatic number plate recognition software in order to create a database of car movements. Is also happening in Ireland. Possibility to work with Information Commissioner on this, as he is concerned about the rise of CCTV. No legislation has been required for this database, but it is a leap from the legal permissions granted to allow CCTV.
ACTIONS: Find out who's working on this, if anyone, and develop campaign plan. May be able to get a lot of popular support for action on this. Could maybe work with RAC/AA?
UPDATE: No significant action taken. No2ID not working on this. Recent e-petition suggests significant public support, but public motivation unclear (possibly more about money than privacy).
Network Level Content Blocking
Issue: Home Office mandating that all ISPs should block sites listed on IWF's list of child p*rn sites, and wish to expand to cover violent p*rnography, as per the Violent P*rnography Bill. System could easily be abused, and expanded to cover any type of content, without legislation or debate, including alleged terrorism site and accusations of libel. Problem for small ISPs.
ACTIONS: Need to develop a campaign plan. ISPs might be willing to fund a campaign on this.
UPDATE: No action taken.
EU Data Retention Directive - Implementation
Issue: This directive was passed in double-quick time, and is now being implemented. The Irish Government have not mounted the challenge they were expected to. Digital Rights Ireland, however, have taken the Irish Government to court on the issue. The UK is likely to take the full three years available to it to implement, and will likely negotiate individually with each major ISP and telco.
ACTIONS: Need to develop a campaign plan. We have the possibility of funding from at least one ISP to work on this.
UPDATE: DRI suspect that countries will delay implementation pending results of their legal challenge. ORG working closely with DRI but case not likely to go to ECJ until Autumn 2007.
Priority 3 Issues
These are issues that ORG will monitor over the next six to twelve months.
7. RIPA, pt III 8. IPRED2 9. National DNA Database 10. NHS Data Spine 11. Children's databases 12. Computer Misuse Act 13. Geodata/INSPIRE 14. Government Cybercrime Policy 15. Crown Copyright 16. Broadcast Treaty 17. Fingerprinting and biometrics
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, Part III
Issue: The government want everyone to hand over their crypto keys. They cite paedophiles as the reason why this move is necessary, but there is no evidence that this will have any impact on paedophiles at all.
ACTION: None at present, but should support FIPA in their work on this.
UPDATE: No action taken
Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Directive 2 (IPRED2)
Issue: A European directive that criminalises infringement of IPR on a commercial scale, or on a scale that affects the market. It also criminalises aiding, inciting or abetting such activities. Although portrayed as a move to target organised crime, even activism may fall within the scope of this Directive, although patents may possibly fall outside of it. FFII are working very actively on this.
ACTION: Develop relationship with FFII and support their work.
UPDATE: Sent out call to supporters to write to their MEPs before JURI vote [2] (now delayed to March). Wrote to all UK members of JURI [3].
National DNA Database
Issue: The police are holding DNA from people who have never been convicted or charged with a crime, including children, and are sharing it with academics. Ethnic minorities and drivers are over-represented. The database is not secure, and open to unauthorised or surreptitious uses. There is a court challenge going to Strasbourg this year. No2ID maybe be doing something. Journalists are starting to get interested in the issues.
ACTION: Need to figure rough timescale for Strasbourg challenge, track progress, and look for opportunities to support other groups.
UPDATE: Responded to Nuffiled Council of Bioethics consultation in January. [4]
NHS Data Spine
Issue: Medical records database, criticised by National Audit Office as 'over budget and over time'. Contains much sensitive information, but lacks adequate security and confidentiality options, e.g. there is no 'sealed envelope' option whereby doctors or patients can keep specific material private from other parties. GPs are already up in arms about this, and the companies doing the work are worried and some, e.g. BT, are issuing forecast warnings because they will not be able to meet targets. Some contractors may even be put out of business.
Guardian and Ross Anderson drafted a letter that people could send to their GP asking to opt-out, and No2ID are also working on an opt-out campaign.
ACTION: Support FIPR and No2ID.
UPDATE: Meeting with No2ID - support pledged for their campaign "The Big Opt Out" (No2ID are using ORG tech volunteers for part of this campaign). Reported smartcard sharing in South Warwickshire [5]
Children's Databases
Issue: A number of databases holding information on children. ARCH are already working on this, as are FIPR.
ACTION: Support ARCH and FIPR.
UPDATE: Meeting with No2ID - support pledged for their campaign "The Big Opt Out" (No2ID are using ORG tech volunteers for part of this campaign).
Computer Misuse Act
Issue: The CMA will extend sentences for hacking, has added a test of 'recklessness' and hinges on the alleged difference between 'likely' and 'likelihood'. Bill was passed.
ACTION: Could possibly get involved in Code of Conduct consultation.
UPDATE: No action taken
Geodata/INSPIRE
Issue: A European directive, agreeing on the sharing of government-owned geodata which blocks the use of open licences to encourage innovative use of the data. The time to campaign is almost over. There are many UK groups very active in this, and the Guardian has a Free Our Data campaign running.
ACTION: None at present.
UPDATE: No action taken
Government Cybercrime Policy
Issue: The Home Office has no firm eCrime policy, in part to continual reform of the police and the difficulties introduced by SOCA, whose remit extends only to organised crime, and the disbanding of the Hi-Tech Crime Unit. Work being done by EURIM, who are well supported financially. Could be a good consumer issue.
ACTION: None at present.
UPDATE: No action taken
Crown Copyright
Issue: Specifically excluded from the Gowers Review, Crown Copyright covers pretty much everything that the Government or Civil Service produces. High level of interest amongst party conference attendees this year. Not sure how this might translate into a campaign however.
ACTION: None at present.
UPDATE: No action taken
Broadcast Treaty
Issue: Complex WIPO treaty aiming to add a 'broadcast right' to existing intellectual property rights. This may apply online, i.e. will cover webcasting. This additional layer of copyright will stiffle creativity and is unfair. This is a complex issue, with both sides regularly shifting. There are already many NGOs, tech group, and IP lobbying groups involved. EFF are recruiting someone to take over from Cory and this will be one issue they will work on.
ACTION: None at present.
UPDATE: No action taken
Fingerprinting and biometrics
Increasingly being used for things like car hire, school libraries and school dinners, security at Heathrow etc. No2ID might be working on this? Not sure if this is an ORG issue.
ACTION: None at present.
UPDATE: No action taken
Issues to assess
Freedom of Information Act changes
UPDATE: Submitting response to Government consultation [6]