OECD to Discuss Internet Security

Next week in Seoul, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development will meet to discuss Internet security. The Australian Communications Minister Stephen Conroy is planning to push for new laws that will “allow police to rapidly secure evidence held on computers, obtain real-time access to network traffic and content, and require carriers to retain data for investigative purposes.” Such laws are bad enough invasions of privacy and impositions on Internet companies when implemented in only one country. Bringing such schemes to the whole developed world may be disastrous to the flexibility of the digital economy and to the security of personal data. Governments should focus on securing their own data before trying to confiscate ours.