This week in '99: Security and caching dominate Web talk

"The UK's Customs & Excise office has announced that the Internet is secure enough for online VAT services, despite the fact that the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has not yet finalised its Internet security regulations.

"In a statement released this week, Customs said the Net is now private and secure enough to communicate tax information, thanks to encryption technologies and digital signatures..."

Today the debate over security is still raging. Many of the high-profile dot-com companies including eBay and Yahoo! have suffered from a series of 'denial-of-service' attacks. However, public sector systems remain relatively unscathed by the hacking so far.

The other main story from this time last year, featured the controversial Web caching clause in the European Union's copyright Bill.

The legislation implied that Web caching, because of its potential to infringe intellectual property rights, should be outlawed. The result was outcry from industry and lobby groups who insisted that banning caching would bring the Web to a halt - which led to Silicon.com's 'Ban-the-Ban' campaign.

This week in '99 saw an attack on the government by Tory MP Michael Fabricant. Fabricant attacked the government's apathetic approach to the potentially disastrous legislation.

"...MP Michael Fabricant has condemned the UK government for its neutral stance on the European Parliament's copyright proposals.

"He slammed the statement made by DTI minister Michael Wills last week as 'hopelessly complacent' and said he was not convinced Wills' civil servants understood the issues involved..."

Since then the legislation has been curtailed and Web caching remains a lawful practice.