New US law to sanction countries harbouring cybercrime

New US law to sanction countries harbouring cybercrime

Would create global blacklist of countries tolerating crime

Iain Thomson in San Francisco

V3.co.uk, 25 Mar 2010

A proposed law sponsored by two senior US senators would allow the US to bring sanctions against countries who fail to deal with online crime.

The International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act, sponsored by Senators Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), would require the US government to tabulate how effective countries were with dealing with online criminals in their countries on an annual basis and would allow Congress to take out punitive sanctions against those who were slacking.
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“Cybercrime is a serious threat to the security of the global economy, which is why we need to coordinate our fight worldwide. Until countries begin to take the necessary steps to fight criminals within their borders, cybercrime havens will continue to flourish,” said Senator Hatch.

“We don’t have the luxury to sit back and do nothing. I believe the International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act will not only function as a deterrent of cybercrime, but will prove to be an essential tool necessary to keep the Internet open for business.”

The bill has been welcomed by some of the biggest technology firms in the world, including Cisco, HP, Microsoft, Symantec, PayPal, eBay, McAfee and Facebook.

“Microsoft strongly supports the International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act and applauds Senators Gillibrand and Hatch for their leadership in this area,” said Fred Humphries, managing director of US Government Affairs at Microsoft.

“This legislation is a great step forward toward accessing the technology capabilities and judicial remedies of foreign countries to combat cybercrime and provide a safer, more trusted and secure Internet.”

With security firms putting the losses from online crime in the billions worldwide the legislation is an attempt not only to force countries to take the problem more seriously, but also to foster closer links between national police forces so that information can be shared.

“This bill would enhance global cooperation on cyber security issues while providing the United States with new tools to protect its critical infrastructure from cyber threats,” said US Chamber of Commerce Vice President Bruce Josten.

“At a time when criminal enterprises are increasing their exploitation of the cyber realm to conduct nefarious acts, S. 3155 would establish tough new ways to prepare for and address these threats.”