UK civil liberties group challenges ISPs on consumer rights

A civil rights group has launched a campaign which aims to make Internet service providers (ISPs) more accountable to users when it comes to consumer privacy.

A Leeds-based group called Cyber-rights and Cyber-liberties UK is urging Internet users to send a letter to their ISP asking a number of questions surrounding its policy on the handling of personal data.

The group has posted a standard letter on its Web site which it plans to encourage members and non-members to use when they lobby their ISP. The letter begins with concern about certain codes of practice that have been arranged between the UK ISP Association and the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).

According to the group this code contains loopholes that oblige ISPs to release personal data in certain legal circumstances - which goes against data protection laws imposed in the recent issued Data Protection Act 1998.

The main body of the letter is a series of questions asking the ISP whether it adheres to these guidelines. The letter also asks on behalf of the user about the ISP's policy on storage and back up of personal information and whether or not it has registered with the Data Protection Registrar.

Mr Yaman Akdeniz, the group's director, told Silicon.com: "We asked every member on our mailing list whether asking these questions would be a good idea on the whole and they were extremely supportive of the idea."