Cyber criminals could exploit plans for a free wireless
internet service in Dunedin and leave the Dunedin City
Council legally responsible for their nefarious behaviour, an
industry expert is warning.
The claim was made by Dunedin businessman Stu Fleming, the
managing director and chief technical officer of the
Dunedin-based internet service provider WIC NZ Ltd, former
InternetNZ councillor and current member.
He said the council's wireless (Wi-Fi) internet proposal had
some merit, but warned it would establish the council as the
customer of an internet service provider, rather than
"anonymous" end-users making use of the free service.
That in turn could see the council carrying legal liability
for any copyright infringements by those using the network to
download music, movies or games illegally, he warned.
Others could use the network to access objectionable
material, harass others or breach protection orders, he
warned.
The council should "urgently seek a legal opinion" on how to
reduce or avoid any legal risks associated with the Wi-Fi
proposal, he said.
"The proposal as it stands opens the council to potentially
significant legal liability for any illegal action . . . that
might be carried out by an end-user.
"The legal liability issue . . . I regard as a potential
show-stopper," he said.
Mr Fleming's concerns were presented to Dunedin city
councillors at a public forum on Wednesday.
Contacted yesterday, Cr Dave Cull - a member of the council's
digital communications strategy group - said the warnings had
to be taken seriously, and would be discussed at the next
meeting of the strategy group.
Changes to the proposal could result, possibly including
password-protected access to the network, although that
risked discouraging others from using the service, he said.
"We would be foolish not to investigate what he [Mr Fleming]
has to say."
Speaking at the public forum, Mr Fleming also warned the cost
of establishing a trial Wi-Fi network in the Octagon could
"roughly double" from the $8500 estimated, and a wider
network covering the city could cost $10 million.
The scheme also risked creating a "de facto monopoly" for one
ISP contracted to the council, restricting private sector
Wi-Fi choice and innovation in Dunedin.
Mr Fleming acknowledged that could interfere with his own
commercial activities, although "I leave that to one side".
He urged councillors to focus on developing a high-speed
fibre broadband loop linking the city's high-tech businesses
and institutions, with free Wi-Fi providing access to the
loop.
"I believe that massively greater benefits could be achieved
that would truly set Dunedin apart as a city with
technological vision and ability," he said.
Also addressing the public forum, Dunedin web designer Paul
Le Comte said the Wi-Fi plan risked "picking winners" among
the city's cafes, by encouraging customers to visit those
Octagon businesses with free Wi-Fi.
"Those businesses which don't have the service will be
instantly excluded," he said.
Instead, the council should encourage individual cafe owners
to invest in their own free Wi-Fi services, which would
attract customers.
Cr Cull said the suggestion was "not silly" and alternatives
would be considered, but if councillors supported launching
the planned council-funded free Wi-Fi network, the scheme had
to "start somewhere".
The planned 12-month trial of free Wi-Fi in the Octagon won
support at last month's meeting of the council's economic
development committee, but would be considered again at the
next full council meeting on August 17.
chris.morris@odt.co.nz
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