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UK ISP boss points out technical flaws in Investigatory Powers Bill

20 points by cmsefton 11y ago

timthorn 11y ago
Adrian Kennard's (said boss) blog is always worth a read: http://www.revk.uk/ http://www.revk.uk/
dingaling 11y ago
Mr Kennard is a very clever chap; he wrote or co-wrote most of the operational systems for his ISP, including the Firebrick routers. However he often makes the mistake of applying his logical mind to domains that unfortunately don't work purely logically ( banks, customer services and the law often popping-up on his blog ). In this example, there are numerous technical aspects which remain unanswered or unspecified. To a programer's mind that is a problem; to the legislators it's an opportunity. The Government can use that vagueness to adapt the implementation to suit their needs. They can do so subjectively and responsive to situations that occur. It's a feature, not a bug. An example is that 'small' ISPs will not initially be subject to these requirements. 'Small' is undefined, of course. 'Internet Connection Record' is likewise vaguely defined with most detail being provided verbally. I sound jaded because I made a very similar technical response to the proposed RIPA back in 2000. Most of the feedback disappeared into a black hole and little changed in the final Act. Within months, it was being abused by Government agencies and councils as we had predicted.
- woodman 11y ago
  We would all be better off if the world were more logically consistent, and we won't ever get there if our first response is to simply shrug. By denying the government any technical justifications for the collection effort, they are left with only naked lies. As far as the ambiguous language of laws, wouldn't it be nice if they were written in a constrained syntax that allowed for formal verification [0]... ah but here I am being a programmer again. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempto_Controlled_English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempto_Controlled_English
- timthorn 11y ago
  > he wrote or co-wrote most of the operational systems for his ISP, including the Firebrick routers This is a more impressive feat than just creating an application or two on Linux - he wrote the software from scratch, including the OS.

20 points by cmsefton 11y ago

Adrian Kennard's (said boss) blog is always worth a read: http://www.revk.uk/ http://www.revk.uk/

Mr Kennard is a very clever chap; he wrote or co-wrote most of the operational systems for his ISP, including the Firebrick routers. However he often makes the mistake of applying his logical mind to domains that unfortunately don't work purely logically ( banks, customer services and the law often popping-up on his blog ). In this example, there are numerous technical aspects which remain unanswered or unspecified. To a programer's mind that is a problem; to the legislators it's an opportunity. The Government can use that vagueness to adapt the implementation to suit their needs. They can do so subjectively and responsive to situations that occur. It's a feature, not a bug. An example is that 'small' ISPs will not initially be subject to these requirements. 'Small' is undefined, of course. 'Internet Connection Record' is likewise vaguely defined with most detail being provided verbally. I sound jaded because I made a very similar technical response to the proposed RIPA back in 2000. Most of the feedback disappeared into a black hole and little changed in the final Act. Within months, it was being abused by Government agencies and councils as we had predicted.

woodman 11y ago
We would all be better off if the world were more logically consistent, and we won't ever get there if our first response is to simply shrug. By denying the government any technical justifications for the collection effort, they are left with only naked lies. As far as the ambiguous language of laws, wouldn't it be nice if they were written in a constrained syntax that allowed for formal verification [0]... ah but here I am being a programmer again. [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempto_Controlled_English https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attempto_Controlled_English
timthorn 11y ago
> he wrote or co-wrote most of the operational systems for his ISP, including the Firebrick routers This is a more impressive feat than just creating an application or two on Linux - he wrote the software from scratch, including the OS.