Protecting the good from the actions of the bad

The 'virtual' world is nothing but an extension of the 'real' world. In the physical world, we take it as a given that not everyone will go by the rules. If everyone did, we would not need any rules. We would be able to transfer the cost of policing to something that benefits those who need that expense: we'd need no prisons, no courts, and no police. But none of us are so disconnected with the world as to even hope for a utopia in this life.

The technological revolution has come to pass on the desktops and mobile phones of criminals and evildoers as well. Crime is, by definition, an innovative business, as criminals try to be a step ahead of law enforcement, even, indeed, of law creation. They try to do wrong before even that wrong has been thought of, codified and forbidden. There will always be robbers, child abusers, information traffickers and criminals of all sorts whether on or off line. It is our duty to protect the good from the actions of the bad whether on or off line.

Mobile phones today are more like miniature computers. Inevitably the Internet Mobile Virus is becoming a more relevant reality. New threats are unfolding as the amount of information being sent through wireless channels is increasing. Hackers also discovered that many corporate wireless networks are not properly secured and finding it easy for them to reach their malicious ends. I point this out as a reality only slightly less familiar than conventional PC hacking and virus disseminating.

Users are still the weakest link in combating cyber-crime. Many are vulnerable to spam, and other attacks in spite of easily available and affordable protection. Even with software installed at the corporate level, users remain wary of using passwords. Recent studies confirm the impression that most users (67%) never change their password and 22% only change it when forced to do so by the system.

Cracking a password is low-end fraud: identity theft is the more sophisticated version of that and it is the fastest growing white-collar crime, increasing five fold yearly.

We are working with our European partners to ensure a high and effective level of network and information security within the Community. We need to develop a culture of network and information security for the benefit of citizens, consumers, enterprises and European public sector organizations; consequently contributing to smoothen the functioning of the Internal Market.

Here in Malta we will be shortly setting up a National e-Crime Working Group to draw up the policies and procedures required and to promote safe use of the Internet. The group will also be working on guidelines and proposals to ensure safer network and information transmission.

A second project we are working on is an Anti-Electronic Child-Abuse Hotline to develop a solid front line in our battle against one of the most heinous class of perpetrators one could think of in defence of the most vulnerable class of victims.

On the same front we are working on revising our laws to define 'grooming' as a crime letting us prosecute criminals for the attempt of seducing a child, without having to wait for them to execute their explicit intentions.

Revisions of our criminal laws will be necessary on other fronts as well: updating them to adequately fight cyber-crime is now becoming a painfully urgent matter.

It is also our duty to make sure that the good feel safe. The fact that there is such a thing as a bank robber does not stop everyone or anyone from using banks. Liquor stores and lotto offices are known to have been held up but we all know that much is done to stop these from happening and liquor stores and lotto offices continue to exist in peace. This sense of comfort and security is what we must give consumers of electronic commerce.

There is indeed no reason why a consumer should feel less safe paying for a product online than handing cash over the counter, provided there are the proper safeguards in place. These safeguards must be as familiar to consumers as uniformed police on the beat. Digital police presence, if it may be called that, and self-regulating, safe payment procedures need to be the order of the day to allow us to feel safe from any digital harm.

To this end we will this year be launching a local Trust-mark scheme that certifies network safety and safer data transmission. This will be the point of reference and mind reassurance for the public when submitting credit card and personal details over the Internet and more people will be encouraged to purchase online and benefit from the advantages that e-Commerce brings with it.

This is the text of a speech delivered by Dr Gatt, who is Minister for Investment, Industry and Information Technology, at this year's EICAR conference at the Western Dragonara Resort, St Julian's.