The United States and 29 other nations signed a treaty last Friday establishing common tools and rules for fighting Internet crime. On Nov. 23, foreign ministers from the United States, Canada, Japan and South Africa joined their counterparts in 26 other . . .
The United States and 29 other nations signed a treaty last Friday establishing common tools and rules for fighting Internet crime. On Nov. 23, foreign ministers from the United States, Canada, Japan and South Africa joined their counterparts in 26 other countries in signing the Council of Europe's "Convention on Cybercrime," an international treaty designed to harmonize laws and penalties for crimes committed via the Internet.

The convention streamlines definitions and civil and criminal penalties for hacking, copyright infringement, computer-related fraud, and child pornography.

The treaty also includes provisions added in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks that give member states common powers to search and intercept the Internet communications of suspected terrorists.

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