CHEMISTRY

Cyber Security Industry Alliance (CSIA), the only CEO-led public policy and advocacy group exclusively focused on cyber security policy, today announced the formation of a coalition of technology companies and industry organizations to promote the ratification of the Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime. ASIS International (http://www.asisonline.org/), Business Software Alliance (http://www.bsa.org/), Information Systems Security Association (http://www.issa.org/), Information Technology Association of America (http://www.itaa.org/) and InfraGard (http://www.infragard.net/) have joined with CSIA in its efforts to form a coalition to urge the Unites States Senate to ratify the Convention. The coalition is currently welcoming the addition of other organizations and companies to join the group. The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime is the first international convention addressing the need for cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of computer-related crime. Cybercrime is challenging existing legal concepts, particularly since it transcends sovereign borders. The treaty was created to resolve these issues and promote a common, cooperative approach to prosecuting cybercriminals. Currently, President George W. Bush has asked the U.S. Senate to ratify the treaty, which was signed by the United States in November 2001. Ratification of the Convention on Cybercrime would minimize obstacles to international cooperation that current impede U.S. investigations and prosecutions of computer-related crimes. As transmitted to the Senate by the President, specific reservations and declarations would ensure that the treaty is consistent with the Constitution and Federal law. "Cybercrime transcends geographical and national boundaries and requires a joint effort on the behalf of all nations to combat cybercriminals," said Paul Kurtz, Executive Director of the Cyber Security Industry Alliance. "This is an opportunity for the United States to show strong leadership in the area of cybercrime. The ratification of the Convention assures that all nations can respond to criminal activities beyond its boundaries."