Tue, Sep. 21, 2004

Germany to Ratify Cybercrime Pact

SSL - Washington.   The Internet's borderless approach to information and commerce continues to push the boundaries of international cooperation. In this spirit, the Council of Europe held its Challenge of Cybercrime conference on September 15 through 17, 2004 in Strasbourg, France, sought to promote the prompt ratification of the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention. The Convention aims to standardize international laws on computer-related crime and allow for cross border investigation of criminal activities.

Cybercrime, whether threatening privacy, committing fraud or IP infringement, or involving content-based offenses, continues to expand exponentially. The nature of the medium allows for disproportionate affects. Germany, for instance, cites economic crime, often in the form of cybercrime, as accounting for 1.3 per cent of total crime, but 57 percent, or 6.8 billion Euros, of financial damage, according to the Organized Crime Situation Report 2004: Focus on the Threat of Cybercrime.

Despite the obvious risks of cybercrime the Convention is not without its critics. Some cite the loss of privacy, but others point to the forced cooperation and unregulated information sharing with so-called oppressive regimes. Despite these concerns, 30 nations have signed the Convention, including the United States, Germany and Britain, and eight nations have thus far ratified it. Germany plans to ratify the Convention during the current parliamentary term. The United Kingdom is still studying the policy implications and while the President of the United States has recommended the proposal to the Senate there has been no response. The CoE's latest push hopes to encourage more wide-spread ratification and effective implementation of the Convention.


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