Derek Wyatt, former Labour MP for Sittingbourne & Sheppey.

Copyright

Supports a lowering of the length of copyright.

House of Commons debate Music Copyright 21 May 2007

Given the Gowers report on copyright and the Culture, Media and Sport Committee's report on the subject, which are at separate ends of the spectrum, is a White Paper on the matter due this side of Christmas?

Gowers Review on Intellectual Property 13 December 2006

Andrew Gowers (the former Editor of the FT) Review of Intellectual Property was timely. We’ve had a seriously under performing Patent Office and over the past few years digital rights management and copyright have been seriously undermined by the arrival of a more professional and possibly more threatening internet business model.

Gowers, if anything, underplays the role the internet is having on DRM and copyright and thus his conclusion that all we have to do in essence is to beef up the Patent Office is wide of the mark. What we need is an Ofcom equivalent for Intellectual Property.

Gowers also keeps away form the thorny issue of copyright. Music companies, and according to a full page advertisement in the FT, musicians and song writers, want at least a level playing field – that is 70 years not the current 50 and if they could they’d like the same as authors which is 70 years after death which seems extreme to me.

The whole essence of the internet has been to turn much of this more traditional thinking on its head such that I would support a lowering of the length of copyright. Indeed, I’d like to see the economic case made for bringing together patent law with copyright law.

Also published in a pamphlet by the RSA Promoting Innovation and Rewarding Creativity - a balanced intellectual property framework for the digital age

Internet Free Speech

The Observer Fears over China rival to Google 25 June 2006

Like other search engines, Accoona's Chinese site is subject to the censorship of politically sensitive material. As it prepares to launch its European service, Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of the all-party internet committee, condemned its record of compliance. 'As far as we can make it, the net should be free and open. That applies to Accoona as well as everyone else. Anything that operates in Europe should know the principle of our identity is liberal and that nothing should be hidden. I hope advertisers will shun them.'

Derek Wyatt is one of the founding supporters of the Observer and Amnesty International campaign to end repression on the internet.

BBC Gagging the net in 3 easy steps 13 April, 2000

Derek Wyatt MP, joint chairman of the all-party internet group, said that ISPs were in a difficult situation, but that there had to be protection against people who had been libelled.

He had been the subject of a hostile debate in a chat room, he said, but he had complained to the host ISP because the criticisms were based on something that he had not actually said.

Internet Censorship

Wrote an Early Day Motion Freedom of Expression and the UN Internet Governance Forum 30 October 2006

That this House notes with concern that internet repression is hampering freedom of expression across the world especially in Iran, Vietnam, the Maldives and China; urges companies in China, including Microsoft, Google and Yahoo, to reveal which words they have banned from blogs or have filtered out of web searches; requests that they make public all their agreements with the Chinese authorities and publicly call for the release of cyber-dissidents jailed for expressing peaceful opinions online; welcomes Amnesty International's irrepressible.info campaign to ensure that the internet remains a tool for political freedom, not repression; and urges the UK Government to make strong representations at the UN Internet Governance Forum in Athens in November to ensure that the internet remains a tool for the free flow of information and respect for human rights and that freedom of expression is a key component to any future agreement on internet governance.

Freedom of Information

Signed Early Day Motion 845 Freedom of Information 06 Febuary 2007

That this House expresses concern that the proposed new fees regulations under the Freedom of Information Act would allow authorities to refuse on cost grounds a high proportion of requests which they are currently required to answer; notes that the Government's consultation document recognises that this will have a greater impact on journalists, hon. Members, campaign groups and researchers than on private individuals; considers that such changes would undermine the Act's contribution to increased discussion of public affairs, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities; and calls on the Government not to proceed with the proposals.

Signed Early Day Motion 2699 Freedom of Information 10 December 2006

That this House welcomes the finding of the Constitutional Affairs Committee (HC991) that the Freedom of Information Act has `already brought about the release of significant new information and....this information is being used in a constructive and positive way' and the committee's conclusion that it sees `no need to change' the Act's charging arrangements; views with concern reports that the Government is considering changing these arrangements to permit an application fee to be charged for all requests or to allow authorities to refuse, on cost grounds, a significant proportion of requests which they currently must answer; and considers that such changes could undermine the Act's benefits of increased openness, accountability and trust in the work of public authorities.

Spam

Very very very anti spam. At one point he was in favour of adding postcodes to all email addresses so that they can be traced. A list of anti spam moves by Derek Wyatt is kept on his website.

Written question Communications Act 9 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring forward proposals to strengthen the protection afforded by the Communications Act 2003 against spam.

Written question Spam convictions 23 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many prosecutions there have been for the sending of illegal spam under the Communications Act 2003.

Written question Spam E-mail 16 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make it his policy to host a world event to discuss increasing levels of spam email since the introduction of the Privacy and Communications Act 2003.

The Register reports that in 2004 the UK's Internet trade group (ISPA) placed Derek Wyatt on the short list for the Internet Villain award, for "lowering [the] level of informed debate on the Internet generally and spam in particular".

The Guardian Spam junket 9 October 2003

APIG favours an opt-in approach effectively outlawing spam. Derek Wyatt, said: "We must try and persuade our political colleagues in Washington that their current opt out system might just ensure that the internet becomes blocked forever."

In 2002 the BBC reported Can we ever stop spam?

It is good to see Mr Wyatt taking up this issue, but his proposed solution does not seem very workable. He wants to amend the Communications Bill to make internet service providers responsible for the content they send over their network. This sounds appealing but ignores the practical reality that the network providers do not and should not read the content of the messages they send, just as the Royal Mail does not read our letters.

In 2004 the UK's Internet trade group (ISPA) placed Derek Wyatt on the short list for the Internet Villain award, for "lowering (the) level of informed debate on the Internet generally and spam in particular".

RIPA

The Guardian Straw insists on e-mail interception powers 23 July 1999

Labour MP Derek Wyatt is enthusiastic about the main thrust of the new bill, but unhappy about the civil liberty issues that could be raised

Mr Wyatt said: "We really need a simple bill. It is complete madness to go for such a wide-ranging measure, including voluntary registration of codes and all the laws jailing people for telling people about decryption notices."

Computer Misuse Act reform

Has asked written questions asking what plans the government has to reform the Computer Misuse Act. In 2005 he moved a Minute Rule Motion calling for amendments to the Computer Misuse Act. The Bill came from the All Party Internet Group's inquiry and did not survive.

Derek Wyatt told The Register^[1]

"Well they're being naive if they think there's any chance of it becoming legislation - that's not the point. The chances are the election will be announced just after I finish speaking. But the point is to get this out there and into the public domain."

Electronic Voting

Endorsed the free project/fipr resolution on voter verifiable e-voting

Derek Wyatt said Government considers e-voting 3 Oct 2001

ID smart cards could become e-voting cards, and that the government should hold interviews to determine what people thought of this. He also believes the government should "put out competitions" to solve the technical issues.

TV Without Frontiers Directive

Hosts a copy of a TV Without Frontiers Library Note on his website.

Open Source Software

Signed Early Day Motion 179 Software in Schools 21 November 2006

That this House congratulates the Open University and other schools, colleges and universities for utilising free and open source software to deliver cost-effective educational benefit not just for their own institutions but also the wider community; and expresses concern that Becta and the Department for Education and Skills, through the use of outdated purchasing frameworks, are effectively denying schools the option of benefiting from both free and open source software and the value and experience small and medium ICT companies could bring to the schools market.

News

2009-02-11 - Derek Wyatt website - Letter to Peter Mandelson on file sharing: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Dear Lord Mandelson ...I write to register concern and opposition to the proposals outlined last month in the statement regarding changes to the consultation on how to address illegal peer2peer filesharing.

2009-02-11 - Web User - Web watchdog admits oversight: Summary: Derek Wyatt MP, who is also a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Communications, proposed that Ofcom be given a greater lead in regulating the internet when the next Communications bill is tabled in 2011. Mr Wyatt speculated that out of the 646 MPs in Westminster, less than 10 understood the intricacies of regulation on the internet.

2008

2008-12-07 - Derek Wyatt website - A Call for a National Fast Broadband Sevice: Summary: Here's a suggestion. We need a faster broadband infrastructure. Let’s create a national broadband company to do it. Let its shareholders be one third state, one third market and one third drawn for the not-for-profit sector. The Government should provide the funding and as it develops its network it should allow the major cities to buy into it with capital raised either from local tax payers and/or the market.

2008-12-02 - Derek Wyatt website - EU e-inclusion event in Vienna: Summary: MP Derek Wyatt was a member of the UK delegation to the EU e-inclusion three day event in Vienna. Citiznes Online was charged with organising the awards and the awards ceremony (Derek is a Trustee). At the exhibition, Derek attended a private EU ministerial round table discussion, he went to two seminars and he visited all the UK exhibits.

2008-12-02 - Derek Wyatt website - The Future of Nominet: Summary: Derek Wyatt: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what his plans are for the future of Nominet; and if he will make a statement.

2007

2007-12-07 - Derek Wyatt website - MP at Google, London HQ: Summary: MP Derek Wyatt was at Google, London's HQ this morning.

2007-11-08 - British Computer Society - Best MP website winners: Summary: The winners of the BCS MP website awards were announced at a special event in the House of Commons on 7 November. The overall winner was Adam Price MP for Carmarthen East. The other awards went to: Paul Flynn MP - best design, Derek Wyatt MP - engagement and Alan Johnson MP for accessibility.

2007-09-30 - Derek Wyatt website - Broadband Speeds campaign: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Computeractive Campaign. Members of Parliament have added their support to Computeractive's Crystal Clear broadband campaign, which has shown that nearly two-thirds of consumers are achieving less than half of the advertised download speeds from internet service providers (ISPs). Derek Wyatt, chairman of the All Party Internet Group, said: "I hope your campaign comes to the attention of Ofcom and that it conducts a review."

2007-08-20 - Derek Wyatt website - All Party Internet Group (APIG) - the last decade: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Reacting to increasing convergence in the communications arena, the decision was taken to merge APIG with two other all-party parliamentary groups forming apComms, resulting in a timely and current group better placed to respond to converged challenges. apComms is set to launch an inquiry into a new Communications Act later this year, with the group keen to examine the possibility of extending the scope of the Act to cover the Internet. The group is also planning a number of green papers in the coming months and years. The combined experience of Derek Wyatt MP, John Robertson MP and Phil Willis MP, the Chairs of the three former groups, will lead to an even stronger basis for launching inquiries into important issues.

2007-08-17 - Derek Wyatt website - MP finally sees his Digital Day for the Nation adopted: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: At last MP's Digital Day for the Nation will happen. MP Derek Wyatt has been trying for ten years to persuade both Government and non-Government agencies to adopt a UK online or digital day for the nation. It is finally going to happen........ Get ready for 12th October 2007 and the UK Online Centres Digital Day for the Nation. Locally, we have UK Online centres in Leysdown, Warden Bay, Eastchurch, Sheerness, Milton Regis and Murston.

2007-06-18 - Derek Wyatt website - All Party Internet Group Achievements 1997-2007: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: The All Party Internet group is to merge shortly, at the instigation of its chairman, with the All Party Mobile Group and the All Party Communications Group. The new group will be called the All Party Communications Group reflecting the nature of convergence in the industry itself. ... Under the guise of the newly created All Party Communications Group, we shall be holding our second Annual State of the Internet in October, 2007.

2007-04-09 - Derek Wyatt website - editorial intelligence debate on Politics and the Internet podcast: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP chaired a debate about Politics and the Internet in the House of Commons on 29th March 2007.

2007-02-14 - Derek Wyatt website - MP's submission to Ofcom for PSP provider: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: I sent in a response to the first consultation on public service publisher (PSP) and in it I suggested an online broadband channel, which we might call today, IPTV. I think I was one of the few to suggest the IPTV model. Not much has change except I now think you could create endless IPTV channels in the PSP space. So my proposal is to create an IPTV PSP portal for the UK through which all these channels can be accessed.

2007-01-05 - Derek Wyatt website - MP to launch weekly video newsletter on youtube: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP launches his first weekly video newsletter on youtube.com

2006

2006-12-13 - Derek Wyatt website - Gowers Review on Intellectual Property article: Author: Derek Wyatt MP; Summary: Andrew Gowers (the former Editor of the FT) Review of Intellectual Property was timely. We’ve had a seriously under performing Patent Office and over the past few years digital rights management and copyright have been seriously undermined by the arrival of a more professional and possibly more threatening internet business model. ... Gowers also keeps away form the thorny issue of copyright. Music companies, and according to a full page advertisement in the FT, musicians and song writers, want at least a level playing field – that is 70 years not the current 50 and if they could they’d like the same as authors which is 70 years after death which seems extreme to me.

2006-11-29 - RSA Lectures - Free our data: should public sector information be available to all for the cost of reproduction?: Summary: MP3 21MB Chaired by Derek Wyatt MP, Chairman, All-Party Internet Group. A panel discussion with speakers to include Paul Crake, RSA Programme Director; Charles Arthur, Technology Editor, The Guardian; Vanessa Lawrence, Director General and CEO, Ordnance Survey; Carol Tullo, Director, OPSI (Office of Public Sector Information) and Controller and Queen’s Printer (HMSO), Cabinet Office and David Vaver, Director, Oxford Intellectual Property Research Centre

2006-11-23 - Computer Active - MP says 2007 is 'make or break' for digital inclusion: Author: Paul Allen; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP said that the number of people owning PCs had stalled at about 60 per cent of the population, with the number of those subscribing to broadband also levelling out. He warned that the remainder would miss out on valuable government services, educational resources and competitive pricing for goods. ... Mr Wyatt said: "Next year is make or break for the internet for many people. It's difficult to focus government minds on digital inclusion because they see the boom of recent years in both PC ownership and broadband uptake as a success story, but those statistics also tell us that about 40 per cent don't have that resource."

2006-07-25 - BBC - Labour MP scoops internet prize: Summary: Politicians should use the internet to fight cynicism among voters, said Labour MP Derek Wyatt as he scooped an award for his website. Mr Wyatt won the elected representative section at the New Statesman magazine's new media awards.

2006-07-20 - The Guardian - Public data drives public debate: Author: Michael Cross; Summary: A gathering at the RSA produced as many opinions as voices when an expert panel met 130 people eager to debate access to public information. Many came armed with questions for an expert panel including both supporters and critics of the campaign, in a meeting chaired by Derek Wyatt MP, an RSA fellow who also leads the All-Party Internet Group.

2006-07-17 - RSA - Free our data: should public sector information be available to all for the cost of reproduction?: Summary: Audio recording of a debate "Free our data: should public sector information be available to all for the cost of reproduction?" Chaired by Derek Wyatt MP

2006-06-25 - The Observer - Fears over China rival to Google: Author: David Smith; Summary: Like other search engines, Accoona's Chinese site is subject to the censorship of politically sensitive material. As it prepares to launch its European service, Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of the all-party internet committee, condemned its record of compliance. 'As far as we can make it, the net should be free and open. That applies to Accoona as well as everyone else. Anything that operates in Europe should know the principle of our identity is liberal and that nothing should be hidden. I hope advertisers will shun them.'

2006-06-05 - The Register - MPs call for DRM warning labels: Author: John Oates; Summary: The group, chaired by MP Derek Wyatt, called on the Department of Trade and Industry to address the issues at a European level.

2006-06-05 - ZDNet - MPs demand DRM safeguards: Author: Tom Espiner; Summary: MPs and peers have called for clarity in the law regarding digital rights management (DRM) ... "[There is] a recommendation that Ofcom publish guidance to make it clear that companies distributing Technical Protection Measures systems in the UK would, if they have features such as those in Sony BMG's MediaMax and XCP systems, run a significant risk of being prosecuted for criminal actions," said Derek Wyatt MP, chair of APIG, at the launch of the report.

2006-03-17 - BBC - How to right the copyright wrongs: Author: Bill Thompson; Summary: Earlier this week, the Westminster eForum held a discussion on digital rights management at which Derek Wyatt MP made some interesting proposals about getting the British Library to lead the debate on how copy protection and rights management should be regulated and managed.

2006-03-15 - ZDNet - Campaigners back call for DRM debate: Author: Tom Espiner; Summary: An MP's suggestion that the British Library moderate the debate over digital rights management (DRM) and copyright law has been welcomed by cyber rights campaigners. Suw Charman, executive director of The Open Rights Group, said on Wednesday that the British Library would be "an excellent facilitator" of DRM debate. "There definitely needs to be a wider debate around DRM. Libraries understand copyright in great detail, and the British Library especially has a great deal of experience in the nuances of DRM and copyright law. It would be a fantastic facilitator of public debate," Charman told ZDNet UK.

2006-03-15 - ZDNet - British Library lends itself to intellectual-property wisdom: Summary: Derek Wyatt MP, head of the All-Party Parliamentary Internet Group, has had an idea. In the search for sanity in digital rights management, he suggests that the British Library leads the inquiry and report back to government.

2006-03-14 - ZDNet - MP: British Library must lead the charge on DRM: Author: Tom Espiner; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP has called on the British Library to lead the debate on digital rights management (DRM), and present the results to government.

2006-03-13 - BBC - How to legislate against hackers: Author: Bill Thompson; Summary: This week I will be speaking at a seminar in London, organised by the Westminster eForum. We are talking about copyright and digital rights management and other issues which may well take up some serious parliamentary time in the next few years, especially when Andrew Gowers finishes his review of intellectual property law for the Treasury. Although it is reassuring that Derek Wyatt, one of the few MPs who does embrace the internet, is chairing, I suspect we will see few of his fellow members there even though this is another issue where technology and law are inextricably linked.

2006-02-09 - ZDNet - UK fails to prosecute any spammers: Author: Colin Barker; Summary: More than two years after the UK enacted the first laws outlawing spam, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has admitted that it has still taken no action against any spammers. ... "A few years ago, it [spam] was a real problem, now it is less so," Wyatt told ZDNet UK. "We have learnt how to deal with spam and now the real issue is malicious attacks. Besides, the ICO is far too busy dealing with the hundreds and thousands of request for information he gets under the Freedom of Information Act to worry about nuisance spam," Wyatt added.

2006-02-02 - The Register - Parliament committee hears DRM rights and wrongs: Author: John Oates; Summary: Chaired by MP Derek Wyatt, the packed meeting heard evidence from the Society for Computers and Law, the British Library, Open Rights Group, British Music Rights, AIM, the Publishers Association, and the Federation for Information Policy Research.

2006-01-26 - ZDNet - CMA to get backdoor update: Author: Will Sturgeon; Summary: The fact the revisions to the CMA are bundled in with a wider bill is actually a positive sign, according to Derek Wyatt MP, a long-time proponent of reform to the current CMA. Many of the recommendations are "in line with" what he proposed last year. Wyatt added: "This is more or less what we wanted."

2006-01-05 - ZDNet - Teenager may face appeal over email attacks: Author: Tom Espiner; Summary: In November 2005 Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Internet Group, chastised the government for failing to strengthen the Computer Misuse Act. Wyatt called for the government to bring in legislation criminalising DoS attacks as soon as possible. "It's time they found a way of including the small changes necessary in a Home Office bill or helped with a Private Member's bill,"

2006-01-03 - ZDNet - UK cities promised blanket Wi-Fi: Author: Andy McCue; Summary: Plans for a UK-wide Wi-Fi network have been unveiled that will give residents access to wireless broadband Internet from laptops, PDAs, games consoles and mobile phones. ... "Such a large-scale project is an exciting prospect for communications in the UK, allowing people to send emails, make cheap phone calls, surf the internet, do business and even play games online, wherever they are," said Wyatt.

2005

2005-11-15 - The Register - UK inquiry into DRM and the law: Summary: "DRM systems bring threats and opportunities to both publishers and consumers," said APIG Chairman Derek Wyatt MP. "This inquiry will seek to establish how consumers, artists and the distribution companies should be protected in a continually evolving market place."

2005-11-04 - ZDNet - Government must update cybercrime laws, say experts: Author: Tom Espiner; Summary: Wyatt called for the government to bring in legislation criminalising DoS attacks as soon as possible. "It's time they found a way of including the small changes necessary in a Home Office bill or helped with a Private Members bill," ... "It is no longer an excuse just to say they are aware of the issue,"

2005-07-18 - ZDNet - MP welcomes UN indecision on Internet policy: Author: Colin Barker and Declan McCullagh; Summary: One of the UK's more tech-savvy MPs and spokesman on the Internet, Derek Wyatt, welcomed the stalemate. "We should be eternally grateful that the UN has failed to reach agreement, it's the last thing we want," "It would be singularly inappropriate for that mid-20th century body, which is badly in need of a total refit, to take on anything as radical as Internet governance."

2005-07-15 - The Register - Another pitch to Parliament for Denial of Service law: Summary: Tom Harris MP presented a bill to Parliament that would amend the UK's 15-year-old cybercrime law to confirm that Denial-of-service attacks are illegal. A similar bill was pitched in March but was defeated by the timetable for the general election. ... Wyatt said: "We welcome this Bill particularly as it reflects the work of the All Party Group over the last two years and especially my own Ten Minute Rule Bill from earlier this year. We hope that the Government adopts the measures proposed in the Bill as a matter of urgency, reflecting the significant threat that cybercrime poses to the UK."

2005-07-13 - ZDNet - Tougher cybercrime sentences demanded: Author: Graeme Wearden; Summary: Tom Harris MP is attempting to raise the maximum sentences that can be handed down on UK citizens who are convicted of hacking and DoS attacks. "We hope that the Government adopts the measures proposed in the Bill as a matter of urgency, reflecting the significant threat that cybercrime poses to the UK," said Derek Wyatt MP.

2005-04-06 - The Register - Hacker law change gets ‘elevator pitch’ in parliament: Author: John Leyden; Summary: Measures to reform UK hacking law were aired in parliament yesterday. But a lack of mainstream political interest means that changes in the law are unlikely for some time. Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of the APIG, moved a 10 Minute Rule Motion calling for amendments to the Computer Misuse Act (1990) in parliament on Tuesday.

2005-03-30 - The Register - Analysts slam hacker law changes: Author: John Oates; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP is proposing changes to the Computer Misuse Act next week but analysts from the Butler Group says the changes don't go far enough. ... Derek Wyatt told El Reg: "Well they're being naive if they think there's any chance of it becoming legislation - that's not the point. The chances are the election will be announced just after I finish speaking. But the point is to get this out there and into the public domain."

2005-03-24 - The Register - Politics needs a technology injection: Author: Lucy Sherriff; Summary: Derek Wyatt, chairman of the all party internet group, and something of a champion of MPs using technology said that MPs in marginal constituencies are more likely than any other to keep up with technology, because it gives them another way of interacting with their voters. "Why wouldn't MPs have websites? Any MP worth his salt would have a website and an email. It is natural to want to communicate with your constituents," he said, before adding: "Some MPs don't even run surgeries, though."

2005-03-23 - BBC - E-mail is under-used in politics: Summary: The dramatic rise in home internet access has failed to plug the communication gap between politicians and citizens, a new survey has found. ... Derek Wyatt was one of the first MPs to have a website and it is obvious to him that he should seek as many avenues as possible for talking to constituents. "Any MP worth his or her salt would want a website and e-mail. It is natural to want to communicate as there could be a vote in it," he said.

2005-03-10 - The Register - MP pitches Denial of Service law to Parliament: Summary: Derek Wyatt MP, Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG), will try to persuade Parliament next month that the country's 15-year-old Computer Misuse Act needs updating, to increase penalties for hackers and to criminalise denial of service attacks.

2005-02-21 - BBC - Why democracy starts with an 'e': Author: Mark Ward; Summary: "I get about 180 e-mails a day so that's much more than letters which have faded away to maybe 10 a day," Derek Wyatt, Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, said. He said that the back and forth of e-mail means he can swap more opinions more readily with his constituents.

2005-01-26 - The Register - FBI backs transatlantic anti-spam summit: Author: John Leyden; Summary: Government’s anti-spam policy, will join members of All-Party Parliamentary Internet Group, Derek Wyatt MP, Ian Stewart MP and Ian Taylor MP, to represent the UK at meetings with members of congress and officials at federal departments and agencies. Trip sponsors include the FBI, Microsoft and Messagelabs.

2004

2004-06-28 - The Guardian - 'Rogue diallers' hack computers: Summary: Sir George Young (Conservative MP for North West Hampshire) and Derek Wyatt (Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey) have called a debate in parliament tomorrow. "We both have constituents who have been billed for calls they have never made, because a virus has been installed on their computer which dials a premium rate number," they said.

2004-06-15 - BBC - Company secrets leak via e-mail: Summary: Confidential information is leaking out of companies due to careless e-mail use, a survey has found. ... Derek Wyatt, MP and chairman of the All Party Internet Group, wants to make company board directors accountable for net security breaches.

2004-05-13 - The Guardian - Internet giants 'failing to protect users': Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: The report also recommends that European ISPs follow the lead of their US counterparts in investigating claims of illegal or harmful content more seriously and introduce appeal procedures to allow those sites affected to have their material reintroduced. A number of MPs, including Labour's internet expert Derek Wyatt, have called for legislation making ISPs statutorily responsible for the material held on their servers. The reports stop short of recommending legislation, instead favouring a voluntary pan-European approach.

2004-03-18 - BBC - MPs reassess computer crime laws: Summary: UK legislation aimed at protecting computer users from hackers and spammers is to investigated by an influential group of MPs. ... "We need to know if the law, both in the UK and elsewhere, needs strengthening" Derek Wyatt, chairman of APIG "There is a lot of very disruptive activity on the internet, from outright hacking and the distribution of viruses, through denial of service attacks on systems, and right down to the sending of spam via insecure end-user machines," he said. "Some of it seems to fall into grey areas or is difficult to deal with across jurisdictional borders. We need to know if the law, both in the UK and elsewhere, needs strengthening,"

2004-03-16 - The Register - MPs hold inquiry into UK computer crime law: Author: John Leyden; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of APIG, added: "There is a lot of very disruptive activity on the Internet, from outright hacking and the distribution of viruses, through denial of service attacks on systems, and right down to the sending of spam via insecure end-user machines. Some of this is clearly illegal today, but some of it seems to fall into grey areas or is difficult to deal with across jurisdictional borders." "We need to know if the law, both in the UK and elsewhere, needs strengthening to ensure that we can deter bad behaviour, and also prosecute and convict where necessary."

2004-01-19 - The Register - UK Internet awards nominees named: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: The UK's Internet trade group (ISPA) has announced the finalists for the "Internet Villain" award. Last month, ISPA named Net-savvy MP Derek Wyatt, as one of those up for the title, along with the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), the Broadband Stakeholders' Group, the Home Office and Verisign.

2004-01-02 - The Register - MP fingered for ‘Net Villain’ award: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: One of the UK's most Net-savvy MPs is in the running for the tongue-in-cheek-mixed-with-more-than-a-hint-of-venom 'Internet Villain' award this year. Anti-spam campaigner Derek Wyatt is on the shortlist for the Internet Villain award, for "lowering [the] level of informed debate on the Internet generally and spam in particular".

2003

2003-11-06 - The Guardian - Mix and match: Author: Ken Young; Summary: Brad Templeton, chairman of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (a digital rights organisation), who developed a CR system called Viking-12 in 1997, says most CR systems need improvements. "I am against the system of simply blocking unknown email - it will have an impact on free speech. There are also proposals to put IDs in all emails (backed recently by the chairman of the All Party Internet Group, Derek Wyatt) but the EFF is opposed to this." He is also concerned that CR systems will lead to an increase in bona fide email disappearing ("false positives").

2003-11-04 - The Guardian - Who has a plan to end spam?: Author: Dave Birch; Summary: Derek Wyatt MP, the chairman of the All Party Internet Group, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to the US. He's a man with a plan. To end spam, the government should legislate to make all email addresses contain their owners post code. I would become dave.birch@GU27EB.chyp.com. It is a cunning plan. If someone sends you spam, you can track them down. ... This plan is so bad it defies description, but it also betrays an absolute lack of knowledge of all aspects of the subject matter.

2003-10-29 - The Register - MP unleashes brilliant anti-spam plan: Author: Lester Haines; Summary: Derek Wyatt has been on a jolly to Washington DC as "Chairman of the all party internet group". It was time and taxpayers' money well spent, obviously, because here is Wyatt's suggestion as to how small changes to email addresses could stop spam, add postcodes! For the love of all that's Holy, the man's gone completely bonkers.

2003-10-09 - The Guardian - Spam junket: Author: Eric Doyle, Jack Schofield and SA Mathieson; Summary: APIG favours an opt-in approach effectively outlawing spam. Derek Wyatt, said: "We must try and persuade our political colleagues in Washington that their current opt out system might just ensure that the internet becomes blocked forever."

2003-10-07 - The Guardian - MPs call for tougher law on spam: Author: David Hencke; Summary: Derek Wyatt, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey and chairman of the all-party parliamentary internet group, said: "It is essential that coordinated global action be taken against spam." Officers from the all-party group will visit Washington next week with the government's e-envoy, Andrew Pinder.

2003-10-06 - BBC - Spam watchdog 'needs more bite': Summary: A report by the All Party Parliamentary Internet Group said the Information Commissioner should be given more enforcement powers and resources to regulate spam and deal with complaints. Derek Wyatt MP, the group's chairman, urged for more consistent global legislation and cooperation in tackling spam, which makes up around 10 billion e-mails every day. "It is essential that co-ordinated global action be taken against spam", he said. "I hope that this report can help build international support for both legislative and technical measures to deal with spam."

2003-10-02 - The Register - Doubts raised over MPs' anti-spam crusade: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (APIG) - which includes MPs Derek Wyatt, Brian White and Andrew Miller, and e-Envoy Andrew Pinder - is due to meet with Senators and officials in Washington DC between October 13 and 16 to discuss what can be done about unwanted junk email.

2003-09-22 - The Register - MPs head to US on anti spam mission: Author: Tim Richardson; Summary: MPs from the UK are to meet with Senators and officials in Washington DC next month to discuss what can be done about spam.

2003-09-19 - The Guardian - Unlimited fines threatened for spam emails: Author: Alok Jha; Summary: Derek Wyatt, a Labour MP and chairman of the all-party internet group, says the legislation is the right model to adopt but that problems will arise with different approaches around the world. Of particular concern is the US position - there Congress is on the verge of allowing unsolicited emails to everybody with users themselves having to opt out if they do not want to receive the messages

2003-03-10 - The Guardian - Email of the specious: Author: Neil McIntosh; Summary: The solution, some feel, has to lie with your internet service provider (ISP). That's why Derek Wyatt MP, chairman of Commons all-party internet group, wants legislation that would compel ISPs to deal with spam at source. The details of how this would work are skimpy at the moment: Wyatt advocates a system of licensing for ISPs, with licenses being revoked should the ISP not do enough to prevent spam reaching its subscribers' inboxes. ISPs, not surprisingly, don't like the sound of this. Some moan this will punish them for a problem which is not of their doing (spam usually starts its journey in the US). I'd also suspect that the notion of service levels, which such a licensing scheme would imply, would fill many established ISPs with horror. It would end, at a stroke, the days when they could suffer major collapses of service and simply shrug their shoulders, blaming circumstances beyond their control.

2003-02-27 - The Guardian - Mail out of order: Author: Neil McIntosh; Summary: Derek Wyatt advocates forcing ISPs through licensing to take steps to block spam before it arrives in inboxes. "From a legislative point of view, the best way to do it would be to charge the ISPs a license fee," he says. "They wouldn't like that. Why wouldn't they like that? Because they would have to become accountable." The MP wants Ofcom, the new communications regulator, to take responsibility for licensing internet service providers - and fine those who fail to meet agreed standards. "They should say 'you sign up for this, and if you don't do this, here are the fines'," he says. "If, after two years, spam goes to 45% or 61% [of all email] - the whole world will be jammed."

2003-09-12 - The Guardian - MPs accuse US of failing to tackle spam: Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: Derek Wyatt, the chairman of the parliamentary internet committee, today warned the level of spam, including the high volume of pornographic material, had reached epidemic proportions because US politicians were reluctant to face up to the issue.

2003-06-13 - The Guardian - You've got spam: Author: Vic Keegan; Summary: In Britain, Derek Wyatt, chairman of the Commons all-party internet group, is holding a "spam summit" in London on July 1. He said yesterday that the problem would not be solved until a worldwide body was able to enforce the necessary changes. Others say that if charges were levied for email, spamming would no longer be economic and mass mailers would disappear. But such a move would be controversial- it goes against the free-to-all spirit of the web and would require radical changes in its infrastructure.

2002

2002-12-12 - The Guardian - Spam levels 'out of control': Author: Owen Gibson; Summary: More than one sixth of all junk emails advertise pornography and earlier this year Labour MP Derek Wyatt, chairman of the parliamentary internet committee, called on the government to introduce stricter controls on ISPs to make them responsible for unwanted emails received by their customers.

2002-11-14 - The Guardian - Broadband, narrow vision: Author: Victor Keegan; Summary: At the moment we are just sitting on the sidelines wondering how nearly 60% of South Korean households have broadband - which is four times faster than BT's - while we are lingering on 5%. It is an appalling reflection on policy makers as well as the phone companies that it has come to this. It could so easily have been otherwise. Derek Wyatt, the Labour backbencher, reminded the committee yesterday that when electricity came along Britain opted for a 1 amp system since that was all that was felt was needed. Germany went for 13amps on the grounds that it was not just a question of light but of power. That is exactly the situation we are facing now with broadband.

2002-09-13 - BBC - Can we ever stop spam?: Author: Bill Thompson; Summary: Technology consultant Bill Thompson is pleased that unwanted e-mail is back on the political agenda, but he disagrees with the proposals to stop spam. Derek Wyatt, the Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, is a very nice man. It is good to see Mr Wyatt taking up this issue, but his proposed solution does not seem very workable. He wants to amend the Communications Bill to make internet service providers responsible for the content they send over their network. This sounds appealing but ignores the practical reality that the network providers do not and should not read the content of the messages they send, just as the Royal Mail does not read our letters.

2001

2001-10-03 - Computing Business - Government considers e-voting: Author: Liesbeth Evers; Summary: Electronic voting will become a reality despite concerns over internet security and civil rights groups' opposition to mandatory smart cards that hold a digital signature. ... E-envoy Andrew Pinder said the government is considering giving UK citizens electronic identity cards to provide identification and authentication, but that the matter was still undecided and would be debated in the coming months. Labour MP Derek Wyatt said ID smart cards could become e-voting cards, and that the government should hold interviews to determine what people thought of this. He also believes the government should "put out competitions" to solve the technical issues.

2001-03-19 - The Guardian - Today's media stories from the papers: Author: Jessica Hodgson; Summary: An internet company owned by MP Derek Wyatt is collapsing with debts of more than £830,000

2001-03-19 - The Guardian - Labour MP's 'web summit' vision collapses: Author: Stuart Millar; Summary: A web project founded by the Labour chairman of the parliamentary internet group has gone into liquidation amid allegations that creditors were given false assurances about its financial position. The World Internet Forum, launched in 1999 in a blaze of publicity by Derek Wyatt, the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey in Kent, has collapsed with debts of more than £830,000

2001-01-31 - The Guardian - Scrap BBC Online says Labour MP: Author: Amy Vickers; Summary: Derek Wyatt, Labour MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey, agreed said BBC Online was overstepping its public service remit. "It might be better all round to just say no to Online for the BBC and put it out of the market altogether," he said

2000

2000-06-07 - ZDNet - Pressure grows on government to scrap snooping bill: Author: Jane Wakefield; Summary: The government claims its email snooping bill is necessary to keep law enforcers up to date with criminals using the Net but opponents argue it is an unprecedented intrusion on privacy. In a highly critical letter to Home Secretary Jack Straw director general of the British Chambers of Commerce Chris Humphries warns that government plans to make the UK the best place to trade electronically will be scuppered if the bill becomes law in its current state. ... Labour backbencher and head of the all-party Internet group Derek Wyatt agrees [with FIPR]. "The reversal of the burden of proof is a nonsense and I bet is in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights. It will be changed, it has to be. I'm very confident it will."

2000-04-13 - BBC - Gagging the net in 3 easy steps: Author: Giles Wilson; Summary: You might like to think of the internet as the ultimate tool of free speech. But the law in the UK is making some people think again. Derek Wyatt MP, joint chairman of the all-party internet group, said that ISPs were in a difficult situation, but that there had to be protection against people who had been libelled.

2000-03-24 - BBC - Live and uncensored: Author: Nick Assinder; Summary: Derek Wyatt is to become the first ever MP to go live and uncensored on the net. He is in the process of installing a webcam in his constituency office and internet users will be able to log onto his web site during working hours and watch all the comings and goings as they happen.

2000-01-20 - The Guardian - Internet vote: Author: Hamish Mackintosh; Summary: Derek Wyatt Interviewed by Hamish Mackintosh.

1999

1999-09-22 - BBC - BT and UK.gov hamper Net: Author: Chris Nuttall; Summary: BT and the UK government have been singled out for taking counter-productive steps to hinder the development of the Internet at a debate to mark the Net's 30th anniversary. "To have an e-commerce minister and an e-czar in the Department of Trade and Industry seems mad to me," said Derek Wyatt, the Labour MP who is chair of the All-Party Internet Group in parliament. "Shouldn't there be a minister for the Internet inside the Cabinet Office, overlooking the 22 departments? " he asked. "The trouble is that many traditional Labour people come from the public sector and they are the last people to understand where we are on this."

1999-09-19 - The Guardian - A nation at 'e' with itself: Author: Derek Wyatt; Summary: This is the year the British 'got' the Internet. But research to be released tomorrow by the World Internet Forum will confirm the results of the National Audit Office's 'Government on the Web' White Paper last week in suggesting that Ministers have more work to do.

1999-07-23 - The Guardian - Straw insists on e-mail interception powers: Author: David Hencke; Summary: Labour MP Derek Wyatt is enthusiastic about the main thrust of the new bill, but unhappy about the civil liberty issues that could be raised. Mr Wyatt said: "We really need a simple bill. It is complete madness to go for such a wide-ranging measure, including voluntary registration of codes and all the laws jailing people for telling people about decryption notices."

1998

1998-10-20 - BBC - BBC defends Online cost: Summary: The BBC chairman has defended the use of licence-payers' money to provide online services. ... Labour MP Derek Wyatt, a former BSkyB executive, pressed Sir Christopher to justify the cost of BBC Online, which Mr Wyatt put at £30m.

1998-03-18 - BBC - MP pushes for free Internet access: Summary: A Labour MP has called for every family to be given a computer by 2002 as a millennium gift from the National Lottery to help people become more Internet friendly. Derek Wyatt told the House of Commons that it would cost no more than the current spending on the Millennium Dome.

References

↑ Analysts slam hacker law changes, The Register, 2005-03-30

[[Category: People - Politicians - UK - Labour - Former]

[1] Analysts slam hacker law changes, The Register, 2005-03-30

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