Cyber Crime: EU acts against hacker attacks

Large-scale cyber crime can lead to a five-year sentence in prison. This is one of the provisions in a new EU Directive endorsed by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee of the European Parliament today. "We will have a common standard for sentences for broad attacks on IT systems", said Monika Hohlmeier MEP who is the European Parliament Rapporteur on the cyber crime Directive. Parliament and Council have already reached an agreement on the new provisions.

Information networks are under constant threat. A good 500,000 attacks occur every day. "Cyber crime has become a serious threat in the public and private sectors and requires a single framework for penalties and sentences. Also, the collaboration of authorities on the ground is essential as is the prevention of attacks", said Hohlmeier.

Member States are required to set a minimum sentence of two years for cyber crime attacks. "We do not prosecute young hackers who do not cause any damage. People who commit large-scale cyber crime, however, must face a fully-fledged sentence. Attacks on critical infrastructure will be subject to at least a five-year sentence. Cross-border organised crime is a serious threat for which we lack the necessary cooperation in the EU", said the EPP Group MEP.

To enhance cross-border collaboration, Member States will have to set up contact points which are able to answer a request within eight hours. Europol will serve as a connecting facility. "Manpower is a weak point, however. The American FBI has a few hundred staff to fight cyber crime whereas the respective Europol unit only comprises a meagre 40 people", the European Parliament Rapporteur said.