UUNet has a special place in our heart after our most recent service interruption. "UUNet last week became the first internet service provider (ISP) to fall foul of tough new laws on intercepting emails. Network News understands that the breach of the controversial Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIP) Act happened when UUNet, the UK's second largest UK ISP and one of the biggest suppliers of leased lines, dealt with a spam attack. Engineers clearing more than two million emails called up all the messages and examined the headers to delete the spam. Examining the subject line of the header, however, contravenes the data interception rules specified by the RIP Act which were designed to give users a guarantee of privacy.
The crucial part of the law states that it is an offence to "intentionally and without lawful authority" intercept any communication in the course of its transmission."
The link for this article located at VNUNet is no longer available.
