Globalizing the Fight Against a Hostile Internet
Patrick O'Connor :Yes, globally we need much better cooperation between enforcement agencies. However the McKinnon case is perhaps the worst example you could have chosen to illustrate your point.
This is the case of a slightly impaired man, clearly fixated on UFOs, embarrassing the US government (and military in particular) by meandering around some insignificant systems looking for the great X-files conspiracy.
The measure of damage done to these systems has been blown out of proportion in order to justify the punitive sentence the US courts would seek to impose. The difficulty in apprehending McKinnon almost negligible.
Leaving aside the poor choice of example (why not Eastern European bot-herders or African phishermen ? Surely these represent more of a clear and present danger than McKinnon) the notion of an international organisation that could easily interface with national law enforcement bodies is a good idea but has proved difficult to establish to confront drug smuggling or terrorism.
The world will also not tolerate the US deciding that it will be the policeman of the internet, which may appeal to a future administration. Of course the US may press ahead with it's own plans and establish such an initiative but by that time the US will have significant influence over about a third (at best) of the global network, making it a pointless and potentially antagonistic action to wards the rest of the online world.
A global agreement to pursue wrongdoers is welcome but about as easy as any other worldwide initiative one can think of, such as climate change, terrorism, drugs, people smuggling etc.
Interesting that Kaspersky should suggest this, having lived most of his life in a police-state.
Posted by Patrick O'Connor | December 14, 2009 10:40 AM
Great comment on what is more proposed actions on dealing with symptoms of a more difficult target; the money trail.
