High Tech Crime Experts Meeting 2008
The Hague - The Netherlands.
Improved and closer cooperation in combating cyber-crime was the result of a
3-day conference on cyber-crime related topics, held at the Europol headquarters in The Hague at the beginning of December 2008. This annual conference yielded a lot of interest from High Tech Crime investigators coming from Europe and overseas. Subjects like cross-border operational info-exchange, cyber-crime case studies, new techniques in perpetrating digital attacks, new concepts in digital forensic analysis methods, future criminal trends, and training for law enforcement were all discussed during the event.
On the first day, a session was specifically dedicated to the set-up of the so-called 'cyber-crime platform'. The initiative being launched under the French presidency is coordinated by Europol. The platform is a first step towards a more consistent and effective approach to fighting internet crimes at EU level.
On the second day, the meeting concentrated on the discussion of various operational issues such as the malicious use of internet technologies by criminal organisations and the action to be taken by EU law enforcements to tackle this phenomenon.
On the third and final day, the experts focused on new developments in high-tech crime investigations with the exchange of best practices and the arrangement of hands-on sessions, from internet and forensic-related points of view. These subjects had a more technical perspective, supported by excellent speakers from all over the world.
Besides the large participation of EU Member States, delegations from Canada, Norway, Russian Federation, Switzerland, USA and Turkey, as well as from the European Commission, Eurojust, and Interpol also joined the meeting. Moreover, the participation of experts from private industry such as Microsoft and eBay has further strengthened the already ongoing partnership with Europol.
EUROPOL, the European Union law enforcement agency which handles criminal intelligence, is devoting many efforts to support EU Member States efforts to achieve a coordinated and harmonised approach in combating cyber-crime.
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