The European Commission's policy on fighting cybercrime in
Europe is the product of many years of consultation and focuses on
greater co-operation between European police forces.
Though the Commission said that it did not believe that new
legislation would be useful at this stage in stopping the fast
growth of cybercrime, it said it will consider anti-ID theft laws
later this year.
"No general legislation on the fight against cyber crime can be
expected to be effective at this moment," said a Commission
statement. "However … targeted legislative actions may also prove
to be appropriate or needed in specific areas. As an example, the
Commission will consider an initiative regarding European
legislation against identity theft in 2007. Legislative action
could also include developing a regulation on the responsibility of
different actors in the relevant sector."
Overall, the Commission said that its cyber crime fighting
policies would depend on improved co-operation and communication
between law enforcement forces across Europe.
"The main feature of this policy instrument is a proactive
policy in reinforcing the structures for operational law
enforcement cooperation," said the Commission statement. "The
Commission will launch a reflection on how this cooperation can be
strengthened and improved."
In a move which could prove controversial, the Commission said
that its new policy included "actions to improve exchange of
information" between law enforcement agencies. Attempts to share
increasing amounts of information between police forces in Europe
have met with opposition.
Europe's privacy watchdog the European Data Protection
Supervisor recently warned of his "grave concern" that data sharing
plans was a "lowest common denominator approach that would hinder
the fundamental rights of EU citizens".
Earlier this week the European Parliament voted to support the
reinstatement of data protection principles into a European plan to
share data across police forces.
"The policy instrument includes actions to improve exchange of
information and best practices, initiatives to improve training and
awareness-raising within law enforcement authorities," said the
Commission's statement on its plan.
The Commission also wants to create new public-private projects
designed to fight crime. This could also raise privacy problems
because state bodies in Europe are often reluctant to share
personal information with the private sector.
