Identity in the Context of
Civil Law - discussion
FIDIS - WP 2
Fontainebleau - 10th December 2004
Wim Schreurs (V.U.B.-L.S.T.S.)
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
Overview
 Decisions in Civil Case law
 E.U. Legislation on Data Retention
 Relationship & discussion
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
Case law :
 Indicator for future application of law
 Not only look to data protection cases
 Other concept of (approach to) data
protection and privacy in civil cases
than in criminal cases?
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
TestAchat/EMI – SONY et alia
 In the field of copyright
 Facts : (anti-copying) technology
infringing mandatory legislation
 France  Belgium :  confusion
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
TestAchat/EMI – SONY et alia
 Inspiring to questions / remarks...
 Analogy with Identity Management
Systems
 Can you prevent “illegal” technology?
 Proportionality and consent principle.
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
R.I.A.A. Vs. Many Others
 Interesting link between data
protection law and intellectual
property law
 They both deal with information
 Use copyright mechanisms for data
protection?
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
R.I.A.A. Vs. Many Others
 Facts : “ R.I.A.A. (a private organisat.
representing music industry) searches for
illegal content on PC’s, searches for the
IPnumbers and forces ISP’s to give personal
data (name & address)”
 But :
 R.I.A.A. : Right to search my PC?
 Software : Right to provide my IP?
 ISP : Right to provide my identity?
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
Pessers vs. Lycos (Holland)
 Facts : conditional anonimity
(pessers@home.nl)
 Legal Tools for organising deanonymisation :
 5- Steps Test
 California Bill
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
4 Steps test (case law)
 Facts : conditional anonimity
(pessers@home.nl)
 Legal Tools for organising deanonymisation :
 5- Steps Test
 California Bill
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
California Draft Legislation

Procedure for de-anonymising

1. plaintiff sends suit to de-anonymise to a SP

2. SP notifies the suit to the anonymus + copy

3. Anonymus has reasonable term to defend against this suit.
and sends his defence to SP who sends it to judge

4. judge makes a judgement on defence.

5. if demander misuses this procedure, he should pay
damages

Assembly Bill 1143. (info.sen.ca.gov).
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
 Draft Framework Decision of the
Council of the European Union dd.
april 2004.
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society
Future
comm.
Technol
ogies
telephony
Ipn°,
subsets
traffic data
x
x
x
x
x
x
location data
x
x
x
x
x
x
user data
x
x
x
x
x
x
subscriber data
x
x
x
x
x
x
source of communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
routing of communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
destination of communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
time & date of communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
duration of communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
communication device
x
x
x
x
x
x
location start and throughout
duration of the communication
x
x
x
x
x
x
IN GENERAL
www,
url,
http
Ftp,
Ntp,
voip
vobb
sms,
ems,
mmms
[© Anonequity.org]
FIDIS - Future of Identity in the
Information Society