ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the issues that are shaping the European Commission and British governments' policies concerning the Internet. Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) have been seen as the centrepiece for future production, services and investment. It has been argued that new forms of electronic commerce may promote competitiveness, efficiency and growth. The chapter considers how the debate concerning state intervention/retraction has impacted upon the cryptographic policy initiatives. As new forms of trading become available to service providers, the Internet has been seen to be a medium in which products can be sold directly to consumers. In turn, electronic forms of commerce require reliable security mechanisms to preserve concepts of trust, authenticity, integrity, confidentiality and privacy. The chapter outlines the principal issues which are facing governments as they attempt to reconcile their desire to establish a free electronic economy, while stemming the flow of potentially illicit, illegal or dangerous material.
