CYBERCRIME

The Council of Europe helps protect societies worldwide from the threat of cybercrime through the Convention on Cybercrime and its Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism, the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) and the Project on Cybercrime.

Standards: the Convention and its Protocol The Convention on Cybercrime of the Council of Europe is the only binding international instrument on this issue. It serves as a guideline for any country developing comprehensive national legislation against Cybercrime and as a framework for international cooperation between State Parties to this treaty. The Convention is supplemented by a Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism committed through computer systems. The Convention (ETS 185) The Convention in other languages The Protocol on Xenophobia and Racism (ETS 189) The Protocol in other languages

The Convention Committee (T-CY) The Convention on Cybercrime foresees regular consultations of the Parties who meet at least once per year as the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY). T-CY Committee page

Projects on Cybercrime

The Council of Europe helps countries to ratify, accede and implement these treaties through technical cooperation projects:   Project on Cybercrime (Phase 1 completed) Global Project on Cybercrime (Phase 2) Project on Cybercrime in Georgia

News

Octopus Interface Conference on Cooperation against Cybercrime (23-25 March 2010, Strasbourg) [17 March 2010, Strasbourg] The Octopus Interface Conference 2010 will take place on 23-25 March 2010 in Strabourg. It will be launched with a high-level panel on “Security and fundamental rights – what rules for the internet”. The conference will focus in particular on the need for a global capacity building effort to enable countries worldwide to cope with crimes committed on the Internet. More than 300 experts from all over the world, representing governments, law enforcement authorities, international organisations and the Internet industry, will discuss: - Security and privacy in cloud computing - Effective measures against the sexual exploitation and abuse of children on the internet - The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime as a global framework - Cybercrime training for judges and prosecutors - Law enforcement responsibilities: the role of high-tech crime units, CERTs/CSIRTs, ICANN, registries and registrars - Mapping networks against cybercrime - Technical cooperation against cybercrime The Conference will take place in the Palais de l'Europe of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. For those not able to participate there will be a live webcast of plenary and some of the workshop sessions at http://tv.coe.int/webcast. Agenda Octopus Conference website Special file on the Octopus Conference Thematic file on cybercrime Monaco, Estonia and Microsoft contribute to the Global Project on Cybercrime (February - March 2010, Strasbourg) [16 March 2010, Strasbourg] Monaco and Estonia have become new partners and joined the global effort against cybercrime by making new voluntary contributions to the Global Project on Cybercrime. Microsoft continues to provide a strong and highly valuable support in the global undertaking against cybercrime through new funding provided to the Project. Since its launching in March 2009, the Global Project on Cybercrime (Phase 2) has been co-funded by Romania, Monaco, Estonia, Microsoft and McAfee. Montenegro and Azerbaijan ratified the Convention on Cybercrime (March 2010, Strasbourg) [16 March 2010, Strasbourg] Montenegro and Azerbaijan deposited the instrument of ratification of the Convention on Cybercrime (ETS 185), respectively on 3 and 15 March 2010. The Convention on Cybercrime will enter into force as regards this two States on 1 July 2010. 28 States are now Parties to the Convention. Treaty Office website Current status of signatures, ratifications and accessions to the Convention Project on Cybercrime in Georgia: Conference on cybercrime (2 March 2010, Tbilisi) [25 February 2010, Strasbourg] The progress made by Georgia in fighting cybercrime will be discussed during the Conference held at the Ministry of Justice. Recently, Georgian authorities have finalised drafting the amendments on cybercrime and data protection legislation in view of complying with the international standards and they are in the process of establishing a High Tech Crime unit to investigate cybercrime and deal with digital evidence. Representatives from the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will also discuss further steps to be taken as regards the ongoing legislative and institutional reform process. The joint EU/CoE Project on Cybercrime in Georgia provided continuous support to this process by carrying out several activities to assist the authorities in their efforts  to strengthen capacities in Georgia against cybercrime.   Agenda Experts' presentations List of participants Project on Cybercrime in Georgia: Workshop on law enforcement-ISP cooperation (2 March 2010, Tbilisi) [25 February 2010, Strasbourg] The workshop will gather representatives from law enforcement authorities and Internet service providers to discuss current challenges of their cooperation and identify the ways to strengthen it. The Council of Europe “Guidelines on cooperation between law enforcement and ISP against cybercrime” will serve as a basis for discussion. Agenda List of participants Experts' presentations More information on law enforcement and ISPs cooperation Project on Cybercrime in Georgia: “Train the Trainer” course (1-3 March 2010, Tbilisi) [25 February 2010, Strasbourg] This course is designed to train the trainers in delivering cybercrime courses and ensure that training is delivered by local trainers in local languages and only limited needs of international trainers. The training follows a series of activities organised within the Project which underlined the need to provide prosecutors, judges and investigators of the future High Tech Crime unit with an insight into the criminal use of technology and to strengthen their capacities to investigate and prosecute cybercrime as well as secure electronic evidence.   List of participants More information on cybercrime training Project on Cybercrime in Georgia: Steering Committee Meeting (1 March 2010, Tbilisi) [25 February 2010, Strasbourg] The Steering Committee will meet to review the activities implemented since October 2009 and discuss further activities and other issues related to the implementation of the Project, which ends in May 2010. Agenda List of participants Cybercrime training in Pakistan (23-24 February 2010, Islamabad)   [24 February 2010, Strasbourg] The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Microsoft and the Council of Europe jointly organised two cybercrime training sessions for law enforcement officers. Furthermore, round table discussions were held on institutionalising cybercrime training with FIA as well as judicial training with the Federal Judicial Academy. In addition, an exchange of views took place with the Pakistan Information Security Assocation (PISA). These events will also feed into ongoing legislative reforms and help bring the legislation of Pakistan further in line with the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime. UN Crime Congress (12-19 April 2010, Salvador, Brazil) [17 February 2010, Strasbourg] The contribution of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to the UN Crime Congress is now available. Contribution of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe: English / French 7th Safer Internet Day (9 February 2010) [20 January 2010, Strasbourg] Organised by INSAFE and supported by the European Union through the Safer Internet Programme, the main theme of this edition will be personal image management online, with the slogan "Think before you post!". The purpose is to raise awareness among young people on the potential consequences of their actions before posting photos. The European Commission will organise an event  on “social networking, children and young people” at the Parliament of the European Union in Strasbourg. Speakers and panelists will also have the opportunity to discuss these issues during a dinner-debate organised by the Council of Europe on 8 February 2010. Website of the Safer Internet Program Website of Insafe OLAF Conference on seizure, confiscation and asset recovery (4-6 February 2010, Milan) [20 January 2010, Strasbourg] The OLAF conference will address the issues of the European Union legislation on seizure, confiscation and asset recovery and its enforcement in the European countries. The Council of Europe will contribute to discussion on the implementation of the Convention on Cybercrime as regards the seizure of computer data.   Agenda Pre-West African Internet Fraud Summit Workshop (2-3 February 2010, Nigeria) [20 January 2010, Strasbourg] This workshop organised by EFCC and Microsoft with the support of UNODC (United Nations Office on drugs and crime) is aimed at gathering major international stakeholders who have an interest and a crucial expertise in fighting cybercrime and fraud in West Africa, and at discussing the content, the goals and the structure of the upcoming First West-African Internet Fraud Summit, due to take place later in 2010.