European Commission aims to set up new cyber crime centre by 2013

The European Commission is currently in the process of drawing proposals to create a new cyber crime center.
 
The project that is due to be functional by 2013 will have as primary focus to prevent and investigate criminal activities conducted over the internet such as viruses or hacking. 
 
The European Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström has announced the plan and said: "We must adapt to the digital reality and take on the challenge of cyber crime.
Today, you don't need a bomb to attack a nuclear power plant. You don't need a gun to rob people. The internet gives criminals new opportunities to attack critical infrastructure and steal money from our bank accounts. It is our job to ensure that they do not succeed."
 
If the Europe's Council of Ministers agrees on the plans, the centre will be installed at European police office Europol. Computer Emergency Response teams from the different European countries involved in the project, will be developed to feed into the centre and an information sharing and alert system, is expected to be set up.  
 
The plan also proposes that member states should ensure common standards among police, judiciary and forensic investigators as well as liaising with the necessary relevant entities to put in place national cyber crime awareness and training.
 
Once the project is complete and in action, an annual report will be put together by the Commission including recommendations for improvement. The cyber crime proposals are part of the Commission's EU Internal Security Strategy in Action report. In the UK, the government identified cyber crime as one of the major threats to the country in its Strategic Defence Review, pledging to commit an extra £500m to tackle the problem.



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