By editorial@silicon.com, 10 January 2001 16:00
NEWS Raymond Kendall told silicon.com in an exclusive video interview published today, that law enforcers have neither the resources nor the ability to deal with crime on the internet. He said: "We need people who have grown up with this and have been specially trained." Following an Internet Defence Summit in May last year, certain areas of the media coined the phrase 'Cyberpol', saying Interpol needed a specialised group of geeks with badges. While Kendall's comment highlights security agencies' current inability to tackle technology threats, the fight against cybercrime intensified this week. On Monday, the Clinton administration issued an order to create a counter-intelligence board to co-ordinate law enforcers tackling cybercrime. The board, C1-21, is a direct response to ever-increasing electronic attacks. Clinton spokesman Jake Siewart said in a statement: "We need a counter-intelligence capability that matches the new globalised reality." At issue are crimes such as hacker attacks, and virus dissemination such as the Love Bug, which crippled email systems worldwide in May last year. In July last year, Edgar Adamson of the US Customs Service told a House of Representatives panel that up to 60 per cent of Interpol members lack appropriate legislation to deal with internet and computer-related crime. He said: "We must develop the technology, capabilities, processes and legal framework to respond to cyber events in near real time, not the hours or days it currently takes." Jonathon Fornaci, CEO of consultancy AtomicTangerine, which sponsored the Internet Defence Summit, agreed in a silicon.com video interview that legislation is restricting government agencies in their attempts to halt web-based crime. Emphasising the need for cross border co-operation, he said: "One of the important things is open unilateral discussions." Both Kendall and Fornaci believe international co-operation, including that of the normally shy public sector, is required if cybercrime is to be significantly reduced. By Mark Graham
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