The report said the internet was "the playground of criminals"
and that the government's lack of protective action is inefficient,
unrealistic and smacks of "the Wild West."
Scottish-based web hosting and management services company
Iomart is one of many organisations which is critical of the
report, saying that extra policing of the internet is only part of
the answer.
Phil Worms, director of Iomart told OUT-LAW.COM: “We already
punch well above our weight in internet management and security as
we have a well-developed and relatively mature internet research
and management sector already in existence. But while the
government is well placed to take a lead in promoting internet
security, I feel the Lords’ report does not go far enough to define
and tackle the root causes of the problem.
“The vast majority of home internet users
seriously underestimate the threat posed by poor online security,
and are not aware of the cheap and easy solutions which could
protect them.
"Both the government and all businesses
which trade online have a responsibility for better educating the
public to protect the integrity of online trading as a valid and
growing business medium.”
Worms welcomed several recommendations from the House of Lords’
report, including increased resources for law enforcement agencies
to tackle online crime. He also argues that it is a good thing that
victims of online crime will be encouraged to report problems to
the police in the first instance, rather than big business which he
says is too tolerant of internet fraud and has not done enough to
help customers protect themselves.
“The biggest assets to internet crime thus
far have been ignorance and apathy, with the vast majority of
consumers not availing themselves of simple protection tools which
already exist; some of which are free.
"The government has a key role to play in
educating the public to take greater personal responsibility for
internet security but banks and other service providers could play
their part by giving incentives to customers who can prove they
have installed relevant security software on home computers. This
could be highly cost effective through helping to tackle crime at
grass roots level.
"We should be making a concerted effort to
harness the power of the local community – parents, children,
teachers, local IT specialists and local law enforcement bodies –
in an attempt to combat internet crime, not simply seek to
introduce unworkable legislation in the vain hope that this will
solve the issue”.
Worms added: “I welcome the House of Lords’ report as it draws
attention to a growing problem but strengthening the integrity of
the internet as a trading medium is of crucial importance to
business and extra policing is only part of the answer.
“Helping all users to understand how they
can protect themselves cheaply and easily through existing
technology would greatly reduce exposure to online crime and this
is where resources should be targeted. “
Meanwhile the Internet Services Providers’ Association (ISPA UK)
– the UK’s leading internet trade association – agrees that
combating online personal security threats requires effective
partnership between service providers, end-users, law enforcement
and government agencies.
A spokeswoman for the organisation said: "Stringent action
against online criminals is fundamental." The organisation said
that the UK internet industry has an excellent track record of
making the internet safer through self-regulation – with many ISPs
already offering easy-to-use tools like parental controls and spam
filters to help their users protect themselves online.
"Rather than making changes to the existing legal framework,
ISPA is inviting the government to support service providers in
promoting awareness of the importance of internet security, of
known security risks, and of how users can manage them," added the
spokeswoman.
“Personal internet security must be a joint
effort between the Internet industry, the Government and its
agencies and importantly end-users. ISPA acknowledges that ISPs
have a key role to play. A concerted effort to raise awareness of
known risks and effectively enforce existing laws is also
critical.”
