Back the Act: silicon.com renews support for the DPC

As MPs prepare to return to Parliament later this month, one of the pressing issues facing legislators is how to increase consumer confidence in ecommerce in the light of recent security scares.

Following high profile incidents at Powergen, Barclays, CD Universe, Safeway and Oxfam, silicon.com will be renewing its call for more resources and legal powers for the Data Protection Commissioner (DPC). Martin O'Neill, chairman of the DTI Select Committee, has already pledged to study the matter and silicon.com will be presenting a petition to the DTI to prove how strongly the ecommerce community feels. If you haven't already 'backed the act' now is your chance to do so. Show your support and send an email to backtheact@silicon.com To refresh you memory, here's the outline of silicon.com's campaign: The Data Protection Act is a strong law, but without a well-funded and experienced team of enforcers behind it, it's worthless. Currently consumers have nowhere to turn if a security problem arises, and that powerlessness is damaging all ebusinesses, not only those guilty of error. The DPC should fulfil this role, but it lacks the resources and political weight to do so. Ecommerce is losing out every day that the Data Protection Commissioner fails to investigate consumer complaints. We call for: The DPC to enforce existing legislation, forcing companies to:
a. Keep personal data encrypted and secured behind firewalls.
b. Inform all affected customers when a breach of security is discovered. The DPC to act as an advocate for consumers. The UK government to increase the DPC's resources to allow it to carry out these duties. The Commons Trade and Industry Select Committee to conduct a full review of the enforcement powers of the DPC. Ecommerce will never take off while consumers are afraid to transact business online. The business community must act to ensure that consumers can provide personal information without fear. Make ecommerce trustworthy. Back the Act. To get involved, contact: backtheact@silicon.com