FC: Organized crime groups going online, report says -- beware!

[Declan McCullagh]

Excerpts:

>Indeed, it is possible that some jurisdictions will
>increasingly seek to exploit a permissive attitude to attract
>business, creating information safe havens (paralleling offshore tax
>havens and bank secrecy jurisdictions) that make it difficult for law
>enforcement to follow information trails, and offering insulated
>cyber-business operations from which illicit businesses can operate
>with a minimum of interference.

>In addition, of course, organized crime groups use the Internet for
>communications (usually encrypted) and for any other purposes when
>they see it as useful and profitable. Indeed, organized crime is
>proving as flexible and adaptable in its exploitation of
>cyberopportunities as it is in any other opportunities for illegal
>activity. The implications are far-reaching and require a response
>from government that is strategic, multi-level, multilateral, and
>transnational in nature.

>The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime,
>largely supported by the United States, is the first major step in
>this direction and can be understood as the beginning of the process
>of setting norms and standards that national governments ultimately
>will be expected to meet in their legislative, regulatory, and
>enforcement efforts.

Background on Council of Europe treaty:
http://www.politechbot.com/p-02173.html

-Declan

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