TABLE OF CONTENTS It is an important aspect of international law and the ability to address computer crime and computer terrorism that a wide range of countries accept the CoE Convention on Cybercrime. It is advisable that each organization that has operations in any country that is a signatory of the convention become familiar with the articles of the convention and analyze how they impact IT policies, procedures, and operations.
The CoE (www.coe.int) consists of 41 member states, including all of the members of the European Union. Since the late 1980s, the CoE has been working to address growing international concern over the threats posed by hacking and other computer-related crimes. In 1989, it published a study and recommendations addressing the need for new substantive laws criminalizing certain conduct committed through computer networks. This was followed by a second study, published in 1995, which contained principles concerning the adequacy of criminal procedural laws in this area.
Starting with the principles developed in the 1989 and 1995 reports, in 1997 the CoE established a Committee of Experts on Crime in Cyberspace ( PCCY) to begin drafting a binding convention to facilitate international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of computer crimes.
The United States was invited to participate as an observer in both the 1989 and 1995 recommendations, as well as in the development of the Convention on Cyber Crime. The United States, represented by the DOJ and the DOS, in close consultation with other government agencies, has actively...
