Such crime is a serious issue. Computer intrusions and attacks have become increasingly frequent, costing companies billions of dollars each year. Other high tech-related crimes, such as theft of trade secrets, sale of counterfeit goods on the Internet and theft of computer and high tech components, also require intervention by law enforcement. The Justice Department cannot hope to keep up with this volume of work unless specific resources are targeted to provide them with badly needed agents and prosecutors in key high tech regions of the country. Likewise, it is impossible to effectively combat cyber crime unless law enforcement understands this new medium at least as well as the cyber-criminals do.
Private industry can play an important role in the training process.
For example, eBay already provides regular training to law enforcement agencies to help them understand Internet commerce and the kinds of information available to assist them in finding and gathering evidence of cyber crimes. While this partnership between industry and law enforcement can play an important role in fighting cyber crime, it cannot substitute for the basic tools that law enforcement must have to be effective agents, prosecutors, and computer equipment. It is important for this Subcommittee to send a message to cyber criminals throughout the world that the U.S. Government can and will protect e-commerce from criminal activity. But if Congress is to send a credible message that cyber crimes will be investigated and prosecuted vigorously, law enforcement must have the resources to back up that message. We urge you to take this into consideration as you determine the appropriate funding level for these important law enforcement agencies.