The Information Technology Association of America says more than 40 countries, including the U.S,, are currently involved in negotiating the treaty, which is scheduled for be completed in final draft form by December. Among the organizations pushing for the treaty is the U.S. Department of Justice. When one country's laws criminalize certain activities on computers and another country's laws do not, cooperation in solving a crime and prosecuting the perpetrator may not be possible. He cited as an example the recent Love Bug virus that originated in the Philippines, but brought down systems worldwide. Even so, some information security experts are concerned that the treat may have the unintended consequence of hampering investigations into unlawful cyber-activity.
Security tools are a double-edged sword.
What should be criminalized is the actual actions of using such tools to break into the computer system. Levy added that security experts who spend their time searching vulnerabilities and who are less well-known might also be held liable under the proposed treaty. To return here just close the new window. All Rights Reserved. All other copyrights remain property of their respective owners.