Building the Knowledge Society - Department of Communications ...
Building the Knowledge Society - Department of Communications ...
Building the Knowledge Society - Department of Communications ...
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<strong>Building</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Knowledge</strong> <strong>Society</strong> Information <strong>Society</strong> Commission 55Unsolicited Commercial Email (UCE)One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most frustrating aspects <strong>of</strong> using <strong>the</strong> Internet is <strong>the</strong> rapid spread <strong>of</strong> unsolicitedcommercial e-mail or spam, as it is commonly known. At little or no cost to <strong>the</strong>mselves,unscrupulous commercial operators can send out e-mails advertising goods and services tothousands <strong>of</strong> unsuspecting people who have no interest or desire to purchase <strong>the</strong>m. Recipientsare forced to spend time dealing with large volumes <strong>of</strong> unwanted messages clogging up <strong>the</strong>irsystems. In addition, <strong>the</strong> downloading <strong>of</strong> UCEs can impose a cost on <strong>the</strong> recipients.Although legislation to regulate <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> personal data has been on <strong>the</strong> statute book since1988, it has not been effective in preventing <strong>the</strong> spread <strong>of</strong> UCEs. In addition, confusion is causedby <strong>the</strong> existence <strong>of</strong> different UCE provisions in different EU Directives. EU Directive 2002/58/ECconcerning <strong>the</strong> processing <strong>of</strong> personal data and <strong>the</strong> protection <strong>of</strong> privacy in <strong>the</strong> electroniccommunications sector will serve to harmonise this situation at European level.Recommendation 29:EU Directive 2002/58/EC should be transposed as soon as possible. The legal positionrelating to UCE, as a result <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> conflict between Directive 2002/58/EC and o<strong>the</strong>rDirectives, needs to be clarified.Network SecurityThe security <strong>of</strong> computer networks is crucial to <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Information <strong>Society</strong> inIreland. Both individuals and organisations need to be confident that all electronic transactionsare as secure as paper-based ones.Like any network and information system, <strong>the</strong>re are security and legal risks associated with use<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Internet. The EU has adopted a package <strong>of</strong> legislative proposals to deal with <strong>the</strong>se risksand <strong>the</strong> transposition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se measures into Irish law is underway.Ireland is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> few states without Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).An Inter-<strong>Department</strong>al Committee is reviewing national arrangements regarding computeremergency response.Recommendation 30:Government should establish a framework for <strong>the</strong> operation <strong>of</strong> Computer EmergencyResponse Teams.Cyber-Crime and Law EnforcementCyber-crime involves crimes against ICTs and <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> ICTs for <strong>the</strong> purposes <strong>of</strong> commitingcrimes. There are no detailed studies <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> extent or impact <strong>of</strong> cyber-crime in Ireland. Thereis considerable anecdotal evidence that cyber-crime is widespread. Unfortunately, due to fears<strong>of</strong> brand damage and a fear <strong>of</strong> confidentiality leaks, much <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> crime perpetrated againstbusiness is not reported to enforcement agencies but is dealt with quietly by management.