Cyber Crime: New EU sanctions for cyber crime.

There will be criminal-law sanctions for cyber attacks on IT systems. In addition, companies are supposed to put in place precautionary mesasures and co-operate with the police. This is the message of a report adopted by the Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE) of the European Parliament today. "We are increasingly facing cyber attacks as a type of organised crime. The damage to business, users and public authorities amounts to billions of Euros per year", said the European Parliamant Rapporteur on the directive on attacks on information systems, Monika Hohlmeier of the EPP Group.

"The Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee calls for EU-wide sanctions for such attacks. Furthermore, IT providers ought to be more responsible for the security of their systems. No car manufacturer can place a car on the market without a safety belt. If it does, it is liable for damages. Such rules must also apply to the virtual world", said Hohlmeier.

"The effort of collaboration in the fight against cyber crime has to be stepped up - amongst authorities and between companies and public bodies. I am hoping that the new European Centre for Cyber Crime at Europol can be successful in preventing and fighting online crime in the EU", said the European Parliament Rapporteur. Parliament and Council are not expected to reach an agrement over the new directive until the summer. Budgetary requirements for the Centre for Cyber Crime are to be put in place in 2013 for the period beyond.