[eccr] Appeal for free expression in communications

Appeal for free expression in communications
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Reporters Without Borders appealed to Internet service providers (ISPs)
and telecommunications operators in the 15 Member States of the European
Union not to submit to new legislation regulating the retention of data
from telephone and Internet communications.

"These are grave circumstances, which call for vigilance on your part.
The climate of heightened consciousness about security that has reigned
since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 is poised to legitimise
a setback in freedom of expression for Europeans", said Robert Menard,
Secretary-General of the organisation.

Article 15.1 of amendments to the 1997 European directive on data
protection in the electronic communications sector allows for measures
to be taken concerning the interception, retention and examination of
data from telephone calls, faxes, e-mails and Internet connections "for
a limited period", the length of which is not specified but can be
decided by each Member State.

Concerned by this threat to civil rights and individual and collective
liberties, Reporters Without Borders has decided to offer alternative
solutions to Internet-citizens who wish to protect the anonymity of
their communications. On the home page of its web site - www.rsf.org -
the organisation provides a simple guide to downloading and using PGP
cryptography software, an application that guarantees the
confidentiality of e-mails.

Source: http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=2543 - Reporters Without
Borders

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