Issues in a Mobile Agent-based Multimedia Retrieval Scenario

Abstract. Mobile agents traverse the Internet, often on behalf of their users. Intelligent search agents access dynamic information in heterogeneous environments. The legal implications of the use of agents in such situations are not fully understood. In this paper a scenario in which a mobile agent searches a multimedia database on behalf of its user, is used to illustrate the legal and technical issues involved. Requirements related to identity management, integrity, traceability and availability are identified and discussed in the context of existing technology.