The U.S. Senate Friday ratified an international treaty designed to ease investigation of cybercrime, but U.S. civil liberties groups say that signing the pact is a big mistake. The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime, which began circulating in 2001, has been adopted by 41 other countries, including most of Europe as well as Canada and Japan. It is designed to harmonize laws on computer crime, which differ from country to country. Countries that sign the treaty agree to establish some common laws against criminal behavior online, such as attacks on computer networks, terrorist tactics, and exploitation of children. The language of the treaty is very broad and doesn't require the U.S. to write any new cybercrime laws. . However, by signing the treaty, the U.S. will now be bound to aid its partner countries in the investigation of cybercrime, even if the alleged perpetrators have not violated any U.S. statute, critics say. The American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) both called the treaty the "world's worst Internet law." The link for this article located at Dark Reading is no longer available. . However, by signing the treaty, the U.S. will now be bound to aid its partner countries in the inves. senate, friday, ratified, international, treaty, designed, investigation, cybercrime. . Brittany Day
The U.S. government has been quietly taking some giant steps forward over the past few weeks in the fight against cybercrime. But just how serious are the feds in tracking and punishing those who perpetrate crimes online? . . .. The U.S. government has been quietly taking some giant steps forward over the past few weeks in the fight against cybercrime. But just how serious are the feds in tracking and punishing those who perpetrate crimes online? In November, the Department of Defense (DOD) awarded a US$86 million contract to Computer Sciences Corporation (NYSE: CSC) to train DOD cybercrime fighters. That came just days after the U.S. and 29 other countries signed an international treaty to fight online crime. Also, in early December, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller created a new unit specifically focused on fighting cybercrime. Meanwhile, the Bush administration is adding at least 50 new federal cybercrime prosecutors across the U.S. The link for this article located at E-Commerce Times is no longer available. . The U.S. government has been quietly taking some giant steps forward over the past few weeks in the . government, quietly, taking, giant, steps, forward, weeks. . Anthony Pell
The United States has endorsed the gist of a controversial European drive to tighten cybercrime laws over the protests of privacy, civil liberties and human rights advocates. The central provisions of the 41-nation Council of Europe's latest draft convention "are consistent . . . . The United States has endorsed the gist of a controversial European drive to tighten cybercrime laws over the protests of privacy, civil liberties and human rights advocates. The central provisions of the 41-nation Council of Europe's latest draft convention "are consistent with the existing framework of U.S. law and procedure," the Justice Department said in a Friday posting on its cybercrime Web site. At issue is the first multilateral pact drafted specifically to deal with the cross-border nature of much computer-related crime. When ready, it would be opened for signature worldwide in an effort to slash the procedural and jurisdictional obstacles that law enforcers say play into the hands of criminals operating through the Internet. The link for this article located at CNN is no longer available. . The United States has endorsed the gist of a controversial European drive to tighten cybercrime laws. united, states, endorsed, controversial, european, drive, tighten, cybercrime. . Anthony Pell
A coalition of high-tech companies voiced concern over the Council of Europe's latest revisions to its international cyber-crime treaty, saying the modified language still imposes burdensome data preservation requirements on Internet service providers, and could potentially restrict legal activities online.. . .. A coalition of high-tech companies voiced concern over the Council of Europe's latest revisions to its international cyber-crime treaty, saying the modified language still imposes burdensome data preservation requirements on Internet service providers, and could potentially restrict legal activities online. In a statement issued Friday, the World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) told Council of Europe General Secretary Walter Schwimmer that, while the group supported the objectives of improving international law enforcement cooperation to keep pace with the increasingly global nature of cyber-crime, the new draft would do little to address concerns raised by industry groups since the beginning of the process. The link for this article located at Computer User is no longer available. . Technology companies are concerned that the updated cybercrime agreement from the Council of Europe might impact lawful online operations.. Cybercrime Treaty, Data Preservation, Tech Concerns, International Regulation. . Anthony Pell
Critics of a proposed international cybercrime pact voiced fears Friday that it might enable governments to "wire tap" information passing along the Internet and hamper companies from testing their own security systems. "There are serious concerns about rights . . . . Critics of a proposed international cybercrime pact voiced fears Friday that it might enable governments to "wire tap" information passing along the Internet and hamper companies from testing their own security systems. "There are serious concerns about rights of privacy and the cost of doing business on the Internet," said Alan Davidson, staff council at the Center for Democracy, a private group specializing in human rights issues in cyberspace. The treaty, drafted by the representatives of the 41-nation Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France, was debated Thursday in meetings at the White House and among representatives of the Group of Eight industrialized countries in Berlin. The link for this article located at NandoTimes is no longer available. . Critics of a proposed international cybercrime pact voiced fears Friday that it might enable governm. critics, proposed, international, cybercrime, voiced, fears, friday, might, enable, governm. . Anthony Pell
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