INTERNET LAW - EUROPEAN UNION'S CONVENTION ON CYBER CRIME (ETS NO. 185): FIRST INTERNATIONAL TREATY ON CRIMES COMMITTED VIA THE INTERNET /Ira Piltz, Greenpoint Technologies/ Email <mailto:?subject=INTERNET%20LAW%20-%20EUROPEAN%20UNION%E2%80%99S%20CONVENTION%20ON%20CYBER%20CRIME%20%28ETS%20NO.%20185%29:%20FIRST%20INTERNATIONAL%20TREATY%20ON%20CRIMES%20COMMITTED%20VIA%20THE%20INTERNET&Body=http://www.ibls.com/internet_law_news_portal_view.aspx?s=articles%26id%3d7884E3EB-2E7B-4605-A301-3A6F793D27C2> The Council of Europe, along with the U.S., Canada and Japan signed a convention on Cyber crime. The convention provides a legal framework for the protection of society against cyber-crime. The convention stresses adopting appropriate legislation and fostering international co-operation in this arena. It is the first international treaty on crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks. In particular, the convention deals with infringements of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography and violations of network security. This Convention has been adopted by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe at its 109th Session (8 November 2001). 41 European countries along with U.S., Canada and Japan have signed this convention. The main aims and the objectives behind the convention are set out in the preamble. The goal of the convention is to establish a fast and effective regime of international co-operation against cybercrime. The preamble stresses the harmonizing of the domestic criminal substantive law elements of offenses and connected provisions in the area of cybercrime. The convention provides for domestic criminal procedural law powers to combat cyber crime. The law enforcement agencies can investigate and prosecute the offenses committed by means of a computer system or in electronic form. *What is the structure of the convention?* The Convention contains four chapters: (I) Use of terms; (II) Measures to be taken at domestic level – substantive law and procedural law; (III) International co-operation; and (IV) Final clauses. Chapter I contains definitions for computer system, computer data and traffic data. The convention defines "computer data" as "any representation of facts, information or concepts in a form suitable for processing in a computer system, including a program suitable to cause a computer system to perform a function". Chapter II is divided in to three sections. Section 1 covers substantive law issues, while Section 2 deals with procedural law issues. Section 1 includes both criminal provisions and other connected provisions in the area of computer- or computer-related crime. Section 2 states that each party shall adopt such legislative and other measures as may be necessary to establish the powers and procedures provided for in the section for the purpose of specific criminal investigations or proceedings. Along Jurisdiction provisions are established in Section 3. Chapter III also contains provisions concerning traditional and computer crime-related mutual assistance as well as extradition rules. Finally, Chapter IV contains the signature and entry into force and territorial application provisions and the effect of the convention. *What are the various provisions incorporated in the convention relating to computer-related fraud? * "Computer-related forgery" and "Computer-related fraud" are included within the definition of computer-related offenses. These offenses typically involve the manipulation of computer system or computer data. The convention provides that each party should adopt legislative measures against the criminal offenses under its domestic law, when committed intentionally and without right-- the input, alteration, deletion, or suppression of computer data, resulting in inauthentic data with the intent that it be considered or acted upon for legal purposes as if it were authentic, regardless whether or not the data is directly readable and intelligible. It is interesting to note that the convention has also imposed a mens rea requirement. As per the convention, the States may require an intent to defraud, or similar dishonest intent, before criminal liability attaches. *What are the provisions of the convention related to child pornography transmitted via the Internet? * •Title 3, Article 9 deals with the offenses related to child pornography. The convention defines a minor as a person less than 18 years of age. However, individual states may create a lower age-limit, which the convention states shall not less than 16 years. The term "child pornography" includes pornographic material that visually depicts a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; a person appearing to be a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct; and realistic images representing a minor engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The provision criminalizes various aspects of electronic production, possession and distribution of child pornography. Producing child pornography for the purpose of its distribution through a computer system is an offense under the convention. Additionally, offering or making available child pornography through a computer system; distributing or transmitting child pornography through a computer system comes under the purview of the convention. _______________________________________________ AfrICANN mailing list AfrICANN@afrinic.net https://lists.afrinic.net/mailman/listinfo.cgi/africann