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Cyber snoops come unstuck

Plan to track emails and phone calls is scuppered

The decision to introduce a global wiretapping system that would allow governments, intelligence agencies and police to snoop willy-nilly has been put on hold -- for the time being at least. It was understood that the decision to rubber stamp Enfopol was due to take place next week but word has leaked out that it is to be delayed until the Autumn. A report on Austrian TV this morning suggested that the European Commission had buckled under pressure from the industry claiming that such a security blanket would simply be unworkable. No doubt it will come as a bitter disappointment to Euro spooks who like nothing better that sticking their Euro noses in where they're not wanted. But the news will be welcomed by paranoid conspiracy theorists and civil-rights lobbyists who are adamant that such measures are an affront to personal liberty. The Register tried to contact Yaman Akdeniz, a vocal member of Cyber-Rights & Cyber-Liberties (UK), but he didn't answer his phone. Perhaps he thinks he's being tapped already regardless of the EU's decision. Enfopol is an international initiative to deal with drugs, terrorism and cybercrimes. If made law it would mean that every country in Europe would have the right to earwig phone calls and intercept other people's emails. ®

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