UN joins MS to fight cyber terrorism
The United Nations and computer giants, including Microsoft and Google, are joining forces to identify ways to combat terrorists' use of the Internet to recruit members, organize criminal acts and raise money
The UN Working Group on Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes is holding talks with CISCO, Symantec and others in the United States city of Seattle to examine the technical issues involved in the issue.
There is a high level of crime on the Internet, and "it is essential that you bring in the private sector, [which is] an essential partner in moving forward," Richard Barrett, who co-chairs the Working Group, told the UN News Centre.
The two-day meeting which started today comes on the heels of a gathering last month in Berlin, Germany, where participants examined laws currently in place regarding direct attacks on networks and computer systems.
Member States have yet to agree on a precise definition of "terrorism." This complicates discussions on possible legal frameworks to prevent or curtail terrorists' use of the Internet due to the resulting questions over possible infringements on the freedom of speech and human rights, Mr. Barrett noted.
Currently, the UN is the only international organization working on the links between the Internet and terrorism, said Jean-Paul Laborde, who heads the UN Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force
