Most nations behind curve on cybercrime laws

[InfoSec News <isn () C4I ORG>]

http://www.techserver.com/noframes/story/0,2294,500287423-500454256-502979884-0,00.html

By LEIGH STROPE, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (December 6, 2000 9:22 p.m. EST http://www.nandotimes.com)
- Most countries have not yet extended their criminal laws into
cyberspace, potentially making prosecution of computer-related crimes
difficult, says a 52-country survey released Wednesday.

Just nine of the 52 have amended their laws to cover computer-related
crimes such as hacking and distributing viruses on the Internet,
according to the report, "Cyber Crime ... and Punishment?" The study
was conducted by McConnell International, a technology management
consulting firm.

"The long arm of the law does not yet reach across the global
Internet," said Bruce W. McConnell, president of McConnell
International. "Organizations must rely on their own defenses for
now."

The study looked at the full range of cybercrime, including hacking,
virus distribution, forgery, theft and blocking access.

Thirty-three of the 52 countries have not yet updated their laws to
address any type of cybercrime, the study said, but 17 of those are in
the process.

Ten countries have enacted legislation to address five or fewer types
of cybercrime, and nine have updated their laws to prosecute six or
more.

Only the Philippines indicated that updated legislation was in place
to prosecute a case involving all types of cybercrimes, the survey
found. The Philippines outlawed most computer crimes six weeks after
the Love Bug, a virus traced to a Filipino hacker, struck in May,
causing billions of dollars in damage worldwide.

The survey found the United States with laws in place against all
crimes but forgery over the computer. Japan also had laws covering all
cybercrimes but virus dissemination.

Existing laws against such crimes as trespassing or breaking and
entering often do not cover "virtual" circumstances, the report said.

Also, many countries have weak penalties in their updated criminal
statutes, too insignificant to deter cybercrimes, it said.

Reports of security breaches in the first three quarters of 2000 have
increased by 54 percent over all of 1999.

An international cybercrime treaty is being drafted by the Council of
Europe and would cover the destruction of data or hardware,
distribution of child pornography, theft of copyright and intellectual
property and other Internet crimes.

It also would allow law enforcers to investigate any crime that might
have evidence stored on a computer. Critics contend the proposal could
give governments too much power, and approval is far from certain.

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