Thursday, February 9, 2012

Bill Focuses On Global Cybercrime Measures

March 23, 2010

hatch.jpgSens. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., introduced legislation Tuesday aimed at enhancing international cooperation to combat cybercrime.

"Cybercrime is a serious threat to the security of the global economy, which is why we need to coordinate our fight worldwide," Hatch said in a statement. "Until countries begin to take the necessary steps to fight criminals within their borders, cybercrime havens will continue to flourish."

The bill would require the president to submit an annual report to Congress assessing multilateral efforts to combat cyber crime as well as how other countries use information and communications technologies (ICT) in critical infrastructure, the extent and nature of cyber crime based in each country, the adequacy and effectiveness of those countries efforts to address cyber crime, and what type of online consumer protections are offered by other countries.

In addition, the bill would require that programs aimed at combating cybercrime target countries with low ICT penetration to ensure they do not become havens for cybercriminals. It also would encourage officials to include cybersecurity measures in programs aimed at improving such sectors as finance or telecommunications in other countries.

Gillibrand said the bill would "require the president to provide a global assessment, identify threats from abroad, work with other countries to crack down on their own cyber criminals, and urge the president to cut off U.S. assistance and resources for countries that refuse to take responsibility for cybersecurity."

The lawmakers noted that studies from network security provider McAfee Inc., have found that the global economy overall lost more than $1 trillion in 2008 as a result of cyber attacks.

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Juliana Gruenwald

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Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.


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Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.