[Daily Yomiuri On-Line] (4.29.98) To fill in legal loopholes
that have caused an increase in unauthorized computer access,
the National Police Agency has set up a group of experts to
study how to prevent Internet crimes.
Unlike Europe and the United States, Japan has no law prohibiting
unauthorized access to computers through the Internet. There
has been a stream of reports of anonymous hackers accessing
corporate servers.
A 16-year-old high school student reportedly told police the
victims themselves were to blame for having inadequate security
systems. He was arrested after stealing the client list of an
Internet access provider and posting it on a home page.
After the provider strengthened its security system, the
student allegedly threatened the provider, saying he would
disclose more client information.
The Japan Computer Emergency Response Team Coordination Center
has been studying cases of unauthorized access through the Net,
and found a total of 644 from the time of the center's
establishment in October 1996 to last month.
Meanwhile, police uncovered 101 high-tech crimes in 1997,
three times as many as in the previous year.
The NPA hopes to implement laws prohibiting and penalizing
unauthorized access through the computer network.
Providers' records of computer log-ons are the only means
by which police can track down intruders. Police are
encouraging providers to keep extensive records.
The possibility of complaints from other countries is
prompting Japanese police to set up legal measures immediately.
Concerning computer crimes across national borders, the lack
of regulations may encourage hackers from around the world to
base themselves in Japan.
In addition, evidence of cross-border cases is inadmissible
unless the act is regarded as illegal in both Japan and the
other country or countries involved.
This means that if a hacker from another country uses a route
through Japan to access a server in a third country, Japanese
police cannot submit evidence unless the suspect committed an
illegal act in Japan.
Penalties for unauthorized computer access were discussed when
criminal laws were revised in 1987. However, because existing
laws covered only physical theft and not the viewing of a
document, accessing computer data was not considered a
punishable crime.
While a professor at Chuo University stressed the need for
comprehensive discussions on the privacy issue, an NPA official
said that with the development of electronic commerce, security
of the network must be ensured.
Establishing regulations is the first step in bringing order
to the computer network, the official said, adding that it is
essential to maintain computer access recordsto deal with crimes.
High-technology crime was one of the issues discussed at the
Group of Seven summit meeting in Denver last year. The theme
will be a major topic at the Birmingham summit next month.
In the swiftly evolving and borderless world of the Web,
it is essential that all countries cooperate in policing
unauthorized access. In an advanced society like Japan's,
it is urgent that the law keep pace with technology.
==
There's a compelling reason to master information & news.
Clearly there will be better job and financial opportunites.
Other high stakes will be missed by people if they don't
master and connect information. -- Everette Dennis
==
http://www.dis.org/erehwon/
-o-
Subscribe: mail majordomo@sekurity.org with "subscribe isn".
Today's ISN Sponsor: Dimensional Communications (www.dim.com)
Received on Thu Apr 30 18:04:19 1998