ISPs aim to rebuild consumer image

The London Internet Exchange, Linx, is to form an Internet Privacy Forum to explore the ways consumer data can be protected on the Web.

The association - which represents Internet service providers (ISPs) - will gather industry representatives, consumer groups and the Department of Trade and Industry together for the first meeting on 22 March. The first objective is to draw up a 'Internet Privacy Code' to be signed by ISPs across the country.

Keith Mitchell, Linx chairman, says the campaign will reassert the ISP industry's image as a guardian of consumer privacy rights. This image has been marred recently due to heavy collusion between ISP organisations and law enforcement authorities on working out ways to monitor internet activity for cybercrime.

More details about the forum can be obtained from www.linx.net.