Beware of strangers bearing high-tech gifts
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Goksel Bozkurt
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Åžubat 02, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - As the country is mired in wiretapping claims, a parliamentary committee has warned against giving phones as gifts and also proposed a ban on the sale of communication devices to anyone other than the intended user, as part of preventive measures against such invasions of privacy.
The Parliamentary research committee, which was established to search the wiretapping claims made by senior politicians, judges and newspapers, released its report last week.  Â
"Telephones, keyboards or other electronic devices given by unknown people or organizations should not be accepted as gifts. E-mails or phone messages from unknown sources should not be opened and read," the report read.
The committee also suggested a special arrangement to prevent sales of electronic devices with spywares, bugging devices and tape recorders. "Or else, related institutions should subject the selling of such devices to permission," the report maintained.
Referring to spywares in electronic devices, including computers, telephones, pocket PCs and BlackBerrys, the committee said these should be controlled by experts in doubtful cases. "Operating systems, particularly communication systems, used in important units should be procured from local companies or the institutions’ own research and development departments, or ARGE," the report offered.
Within the measures to prevent wiretappings, the committee also decided to encourage communication companies to develop antivirus software. In this way, the delivery of suspicious e-mails or text messages via communication networks might be prevented, according to the committee. Through instructive activities over state and private sectors’ illegal intervention in communication, the committee will also target raising user awareness on the matter. In relation to the Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s claim that general secretary of the party, Önder Sav, was wiretapped, the committee said there was no evidence.
"Telephones, keyboards or other electronic devices given by unknown people or organizations should not be accepted as gifts. E-mails or phone messages from unknown sources should not be opened and read," the report read.
The committee also suggested a special arrangement to prevent sales of electronic devices with spywares, bugging devices and tape recorders. "Or else, related institutions should subject the selling of such devices to permission," the report maintained.
Referring to spywares in electronic devices, including computers, telephones, pocket PCs and BlackBerrys, the committee said these should be controlled by experts in doubtful cases. "Operating systems, particularly communication systems, used in important units should be procured from local companies or the institutions’ own research and development departments, or ARGE," the report offered.
Within the measures to prevent wiretappings, the committee also decided to encourage communication companies to develop antivirus software. In this way, the delivery of suspicious e-mails or text messages via communication networks might be prevented, according to the committee. Through instructive activities over state and private sectors’ illegal intervention in communication, the committee will also target raising user awareness on the matter. In relation to the Republican People’s Party, or CHP’s claim that general secretary of the party, Önder Sav, was wiretapped, the committee said there was no evidence.