Information Technology

Law enforcement officials, security experts and private sector representatives gathered to discuss the latest developments in cyber crime at the 6th International Conference on Cyber Crime in Cairo, Egypt, from 13-15 April 2005.

Given the borderless nature of the Internet and the fact that many cyber crimes are carried out by criminals in different countries, a central theme of the conference was Interpol’s role in the trans-border fight against this modern type of criminality.

Interpol’s Executive Director of Police Services, Jean-Michel Louboutin, opened the conference by explaining how Interpol could help law enforcement officials in this area.

‘The cyber world is extremely attractive to criminals because of the anonymity and speed of communication it provides,’ Mr. Louboutin said.

‘With its member countries, Interpol is a global organization with the unique ability to provide help and assistance in the following areas: secure communications via its new I-24/7 network, access to essential police information via its databases; and technical and operational support.’

Mr Louboutin highlighted the need for a global approach to fighting cyber crime, and emphasised the importance of a discussion on operational standards, particularly with regard to basic issues such as the securing of electronic evidence in investigations. He explained other ways in which Interpol could help cyber crime investigators, including the development of information technology crime manuals and training initiatives.

‘A specialist unit at the General Secretariat is able to assist or advise you on your investigations. This unit is also involved in organizing specialist training throughout the world,’ Mr Louboutin explained.

He also discussed growing threats such as ‘phishing’, in which criminals dupe online banking users into entering their account information on bogus websites and then use the information to steal money from their accounts. This and other cyber crimes required enhanced co-operation and partnerships with the private sector, Mr Louboutin said.

In their welcome speeches, General Abdulrahim Al Kenawi, Egypt's Deputy Minister of Interior for Public Security, and General Mohamed Ibrahim, head of NCB Cairo and Executive Committee member for Africa, both underscored the importance of the fight against cyber crime. They gave overviews of the infrastructure and measures put in place by Egypt to combat cyber crime and to be able to co-operate on the international level.

The conference, which followed similar events in Seoul, Korea, in 2002, and Lyon, France, in 2000, was facilitated and co-organized by the Public Security Sector of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior and Interpol Cairo.

See also

Resolution   Photo gallery   Convention on Cyber Crime by the Council of Europe (Acrobat files )    Explanatory Report to the Convention on Cyber Crime (Acrobat files )