WEST Limerick Fine Gael TD Patrick O’Donovan is calling for tougher controls on the use of open source internet browser and payment systems, which he claims allow users to remain anonymous in the illegal trade of drugs, weapons and pornography.
Deputy O’Donovan, who has asked the Oireachtas Communications Committee to investigate the matter, claimed that an online black market is operating that protects the users’ anonymity through the use of open source internet browsers and payments systems.
“This effectively operates as an online supermarket for illegal goods such as drugs, weapons and pornography, where it is extremely difficult to trace the identity of the buyers. We need a national and international response to clamp down on this illicit trade.
“Given the severity of the issue, the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, of which I am a member, should invite relevant agencies including the Gardaí and Customs to participate.
“Law enforcement agencies in the United States have recently taken action to address this issue, but replacement browsers quickly appeared to ensure the continuance of the illegal trade. This proves the need for enhanced international co-operation to ensure those involved in these activities can be brought to justice,” said O’Donovan.
However, there has been some confusion arising from the West Limerick TDs statement, with many questioning the credibility of his views.
A blogger for the broadsheet.ie website claimed Mr O’Donovan’s statement was “utterly incoherent”.
“He talks about open-source browsers, and “replacement” open-source browsers quickly appearing to continue the illegal trade. But this is nonsensical.
“The only non-open-source browser in common use today is the much-in-decline Internet Explorer; while Chrome and Safari are technically closed source, they are substantially open source. Firefox is entirely open source. And there’s nothing illegal about open source browsers. I can only imagine that by “open source browsers” he means ‘TOR network sites?” one blogger pondered.
“My issue is more the amazing carelessness. It would have taken O’Donovan five minutes of reading Wikipedia to, if not have a clear picture of what was going on, at least know better than to write what he did. It makes it all the worse that he is on the Communications Committee,” said the blogger.
Meanwhile, another online source accused the Limerick TD of “confusing the issue of the TOR Project, an open-source effort to create an anonymising proxy network from volunteer machines, with open-source web browsers like Firefox and Chromium”.
The Limerick Post contacted the Mr O’Donovan for clarification but there was no response at the time of going to press.
