Forcing companies to reveal computer codes in an effort to curb cyber-crime would be an infringement of privacy, Democrat legislator Sin Chung-kai, representing the information technology sector, said yesterday.
Mr Sin's response follows a government working group's proposal that a series of measures be implemented to clamp down on computer crime. Recommendations include increasing maximum penalties for hackers from five years to 14 years in prison and making companies under investigation disclose the encryption codes for their computer systems.
Internet service providers would also have to keep records of all customers for at least six months.
Deputy Secretary for Security Cheung Siu-hing said increasing the penalty for hacking would bring the penalty for offences in the 'virtual world' on a par with deception committed in 'reality'. She said because many computer hackers were operating overseas, the Government was considering amending legislation to extend jurisdiction for some crimes.
But Mr Sin said more research was needed before any of the recommendations could be implemented. 'The idea of forced disclosure of encryption codes is terrible,' he said. 'What a lot of trouble it would cause companies if police suddenly played with their computer systems. Commercial secrets could be lost and it would be an infringement of privacy.'
Mr Sin said it would take up too much disk space for service providers to store client records.
