ISPs to 'strengthen ties' with UK government

24-hour customer details hotlines for law enforcement

By Chris Williams • Get more from this author

Posted in Public Sector, 25th April 2007 14:38 GMT

Join our expert panel in discussing application security

ISPA, the internet service providers' trade association, is calling on its members to provide law enforcement agencies with a 24-hour contact point.

A new "best practice" document says ISPs should make information available for current investigations as quickly as possible, and ideally be on call at any time. ISPA says the industry needs to strengthen ties with police and other government agencies tracking spammers and peer-to-peer networking.

Providers should hand over customer details more readily, ISPA reckons. The non-mandatory policy states: "ISPA members should make available contact details of a named individual or other contact point (e.g. general phone/fax number or email address) for these purposes."

ISPA council chair Jessica Hendrie-Liaño said: "ISPA already has excellent relations with the Home Office, Government officials, and law enforcement agencies. This document aims to strengthen these ties."

Clearly, a compulsory 24 hour hotline is not feasible for the "one man band" outfits that battle it out at the bottom end of the ISP game. An ISPA spokesman said an email address or some other point of contact would be more practical in such circumstances.

The new best practice document is here.

Bootnote

Orange broadband customers can disregard the article above. We revealed yesterday its converged customers aren't covered by ISPA's industry standard codes of practice.

Increase your knowledge of the latest threats to your busines