This week in 1999: key escrow and chip security fears

This week in 1999 the UK government's ecommerce white paper was slammed by experts who said its proposals for key escrow could hamper online development.

In evidence given to the Trade and Industry select committee, representatives of banking association APACs and the University of London's Centre for Commercial Law said third parties should not be granted access to decryption keys.

The government responded to industry feedback by ruling out key escrow as a possibility in November 1999, when it published the Electronic Communications Bill. Following extensive debate in the House of Commons, the Bill is under scrutiny this week by the Lords. No amendments have yet been tabled.

Security fears also surrounded Intel's launch of the Pentium III chip this week last year, because it contained an ID number that could identify the user. Many businesses welcomed the move as it enabled easy maintenance, but consumer groups were up in arms over the lack of public consultation.

Intel responded by making the serial numbers on the chips inactive as the default setting. The 640 MHz speed and multimedia features of the chips took the market by storm, and Intel recently released a version for mobile devices.

An Intel spokesman commented yesterday: "The mobile Pentium III does include the processor's serial number, but as with the desktops the BIOS does give you the option to turn that facility off."