F-Secure puts its weight behind an anti-Snoopers' Charter campaign

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Security firm wants you to join campaign camp

FINNISH SECURITY FIRM F-SECURE is taking a stand against the proposed Communications Data Bill, or Snoopers' Charter, and wants other people to join in and pick up their pitchforks.

The proposed bill is to communications what a too tight shirt is to your neck. It is celebrated in Parliament, but is low on external support and opposition is in abundance.

In this case the weapon at hand is an F-Secure online petition that the firm hopes will attract enough names to influence Parliament.

"The fight for online privacy is heating up in the UK, where the government is discussing the controversial Communications Data Bill. And F-Secure, as a security provider and a concerned corporate citizen, is declaring its opposition to this dangerous encroachment on people's online privacy and security," F-Secure said in a blog post.

"The company has started an online petition that businesses can sign, which will serve as a collective warning to the government about the damage the bill could cause to the British economy."

F-Secure has released an open letter to David Cameron (PDF) looking to tackle a question that parliament hoped to clear up earlier this week. F-Secure wants answers on plans to intrude on communications by limiting encryption, something that our government is currently flirting with but having trouble communicating.

"The prime minister has said that the security agencies should be able to access encrypted communications. But the encryption we all depend on (from banking transactions to the sending of customer data by businesses transferring our personal, financial and health records) has to be fully secure to work. The government faces a nearly impossible task if it tries to deliver on Mr Cameron's promises," warned F-Secure.

"At the very least, the government needs to be clear about what it is proposing. Rhetorical demands are easy but the reality is more complex. The general, individual need for computer security is arguably more fundamental to our economy, communications and collective safety than a catch-all, intrusive power which has the potential to compromise all three."

Ultimately the document warned Dave and Co against making a big mistake. If you agree, you know what to do.

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