Justice Minister turns up heat on computer hackers
Donner turns up heat on computer hackers
Dutch Justice Minister Piet Hein Donner has proposed a
crackdown on computer hackers, demanding that anyone found guilty of
such crimes in future should be sentenced to 12-months jail.
Besides stronger punishments for people who intentionally and without
permission hack into computers to steal information, the preparations
for hacking could also be made prosecutable, newspaper De Telegraaf
reported on Tuesday.
A ministry spokesman also said anyone who sends undesired amount of
email (spam) in a bid to disrupt computer systems or to bring them to
a standstill - a so-called denial-of-service attack - could face
criminal prosecution. The same applies to people who spread computer
viruses over the internet, he said.
But Minister Donner said he does not intend to make all spam illegal
and advertisements sent via email will not face prosecution, despite
requests from the Lower House of Parliament, the Tweede Kamer, last
year.
He said the existing telecoms law gave adequate powers to industry
supervisor Opta to take action against email advertisements by the
imposition of fines, news agency Novum reported.
Meanwhile, Donner also intends to broaden the powers of prosecutors so
in future they will be able to force internet providers to supply them
with personal details of subscribers. Suspects may also be remanded
and authorities will be allowed to tap telephones and seize equipment.
The tougher regulations are a consequence of the Cyber Crime Treaty
signed by a large number of nations, including the Netherlands, in
2001 to crackdown against international computer crime.
The new measures are designed to ensure the Netherlands meets the
requirements of the new treaty.
A ministry spokesman said prosecutors, judges and lawyers will have a
chance to comment on the proposal, after which it will be presented to
the Cabinet. It is hoped that the legislative proposal can be lodged
in Parliament before the start of summer.
