Blog 4: US Eyes Global Cyber Cop Role

While industry and public uproar has stalled the controversial online anti-piracy bills known as SOPA and PIPA, American legislators are maintaining an aggressive stance on cybercrime, preparing to vote on a new bill that, if passed, will force other countries to play by US rules.  The International Cybercrime Reporting and Cooperation Act is likely to go to a vote in the next few months.  This Act will place the United States at the forefront of the battle against international internet-driven crime by threatening economic sanctions on countries that allow cyber-attacks to originate on their soil.  This bill, which has taken 18 months to compose so far, will establish international protocols on the issues surrounding cybercrime, allow that US government to name and shame lax governments, and establish a framework for economic sanctions on uncooperative governments.  Senator Kirsten Gillbrand, a co-sponsor of the proposed bill stated that “If countries that are players in the issue of cybercrime don’t participate or don’t actually try to enforce laws against cyber criminals we could have sanctions in terms of multilateral banking finance or we could have sanctions that would limit or suspend preferential trade programs.  We could also suspend, restrict, or withdraw foreign assistance.”  She later stated that “We have to elevate the issue.  This bill won’t dictate what laws other countries should enforce.  It just asks other countries to care.”  Although this bill has good intentions behind it, and international cybercrime is a major problem today, this is a definite invasion of other nation’s sovereignty.  Although the US will not literally be forcing other countries to cooperate with our proposal, we are offering some very powerful incentives, or threats.  However you decide to define the United States’ plans to get other countries to cooperate, it is still somewhat forcing other nations to follow our guidelines on how to deal with cybercrime.  Although, sovereignty is an issue here, the Act is not a total bust.  Isn’t it in our best interest for the government to monitor any activity they deem suspicious and put a stop to it.  This does not mean censoring facebook material or personal blogs, but to end any activity that poses a threat to others on the internet. 

 http://www.smh.com.au/it-pro/security-it/us-eyes-global-cyber-cop-role-20120209-1rmuk.html