Moves made to cut illegal credit card usage
20/07/2006
Credit cards of those using the internet to buy illicit material will be cancelled, under new data protection laws.
Anyone viewing child pornography websites or caught buying child abuse images could now have their cards withdrawn.
The House of Lords debated the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Data) Order 2006 earlier this week, which could change the current Data Protection Act (1998) that does not allow card providers to see relevant police data.
Under the new proposals, any individual using their credit card to purchase illegal material could be pulled up for breaking the card provider's terms and conditions.
The move has been welcomed by card issuers, who believe the new information available will be able to help their members identify anyone using the internet for illegal reasons.
Paul Marsh, director of cards at the UK's payments association Apacs, said: "No card provider wants to be associated with those who commit these crimes.
"With this change in the law our members will have the information they need to remove offenders' cards. They will not be able to use the same cards to offend again."
In related news, new gambling legislation currently being passed in the US, will make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites, as part of the country's ban on internet gambling.
Anyone viewing child pornography websites or caught buying child abuse images could now have their cards withdrawn.
The House of Lords debated the Data Protection (Processing of Sensitive Data) Order 2006 earlier this week, which could change the current Data Protection Act (1998) that does not allow card providers to see relevant police data.
Under the new proposals, any individual using their credit card to purchase illegal material could be pulled up for breaking the card provider's terms and conditions.
The move has been welcomed by card issuers, who believe the new information available will be able to help their members identify anyone using the internet for illegal reasons.
Paul Marsh, director of cards at the UK's payments association Apacs, said: "No card provider wants to be associated with those who commit these crimes.
"With this change in the law our members will have the information they need to remove offenders' cards. They will not be able to use the same cards to offend again."
In related news, new gambling legislation currently being passed in the US, will make it illegal for banks and credit card companies to make payments to online gambling sites, as part of the country's ban on internet gambling.
