[FYI] (Fwd) Interpol and the Internet

["Axel H Horns" <horns@t-online.de>]

------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date sent:      	Thu, 11 Nov 1999 12:05:27 -0400
From:           	David Sobel <sobel@epic.org>
Subject:        	Interpol and the Internet
To:             	GILC Plan <gilc-plan@gilc.org>
Send reply to:  	gilc-plan@gilc.org


FYI:

    SEOUL, Nov 8 (AFP) - Interpol should seriously combat the wave of
new crimes being committed in cyberpace, the head of Interpol urged
Monday at a key meeting of international police chiefs here.
    "We should not make the Internet a Wild West," said Toshinori
Kanemoto, president of Interpol after the opening of the 68th general
assembly of the international law-enforcement agency in the South
Korean capital.
    "This is one of the new types of crime which we have to defend
(against) very much," Kanemoto said, adding that it would be "crucial"
for law-enforcement authorities to cooperate with Internet-related
industries.
    Nearly 900 police chiefs from 127 Interpol member countries are
attending the five-day meeting.
    Raymond Kendall, secretary general of Interpol, warned that
cyberspace has become a hotbed of crime.
    "Every terrorist organization has its own internet web site" to
propagate it, recruit manpower, purchase firearms and even sell
children for sexual purposes, Kendall said.
    South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung backed the call for a
crackdown on cyber crime.
    "I hope Interpol will come up with effective ways to root out
computer crimes," he said in a speech read out by Prime Minister Kim
Jong-Pil.
    "In cyberspace, serious sophisticated crimes like swindling,
embezzlement and money laundering are being committed all the time and
often traces are covered up or erased instantly, making the police
unable to track them."
    High on the meeting's agenda will be how to tackle increasingly
sophisticated global crimes, including illegal trafficking of drugs,
cultural artifacts and even humans, the organizers said.
    Delegates are expected to adopt a declaration calling for
greater cooperation worldwide in fighting global crimes, they
added.
    Interpol, the successor to the International Criminal Police
Commission (ICPC) set up in 1923 in Vienna, aims to ensure and
promote mutual assistance between the world's anti-criminal
authorities.
    Among its key goals is to track down and deport fugitives as
well as the exchange of data and information on international
crimes.
    The organization has been headquartered in Lyons, France, since
1989 with 178 member states as of November this year.
    During its Seoul conference, Interpol plans to elect five of 13
executive members and decide on venues for the 2000 and 2001 general
assemblies.




......................................................................
. David L. Sobel, General Counsel              *   +1 202 544 9240
(tel) Electronic Privacy Information Center        *   +1 202 547 5482
(fax) 666 Pennsylvania Ave., SE Suite 301          *   sobel@epic.org
Washington, DC 20003   USA                   *   http://www.epic.org .



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