Building capacity and enhancing cooperation in cyber investigations around the world is the focus of a joint initiative between INTERPOL and the Council of Europe.
With the rapid growth in the number and sophistication of cyber-related offences, electronic evidence gathering presents significant transnational policing challenges which require effective cooperation at all levels: police-to-police, police-to-judicial authorities and police-to-service providers.
The Global action on Cybercrime extended (GLACY+) project, funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, will help investigators and prosecutors identify and address issues relating to delays in information exchange, coping with diverse legislative and policy frameworks, and collaboration with the private sector.
A recent gathering – the first in a series of workshops bringing together 42 representatives from cybercrime units, prosecution services and mutual legal assistance teams from 13 countries – addressed three key areas: strengthening the role of 24/7 points of contact; enhanced skills and tools for international cooperation via mutual legal assistance requests; and increased understanding on data request processes of Internet service providers.
Input in the three-day training session (held from February 27 – March 1, 2017) was provided by experts from the public and private sectors including the INTERPOL Global Complex for Innovation, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the US Department of Justice, Serbia’s General Prosecutor’s office and relevant international service providers.
The GLACY+ project, which will run over a four-year period until February 2020, will see INTERPOL focus on strengthening operational skills of police and due process compliant activities aligned with effective police-to-police cooperation.
The Council of Europe will concentrate on promoting the adoption and implementation of consistent cybercrime and cybersecurity policies, enabling criminal justice authorities to apply legislation and prosecute in compliance with international human rights law.
All GLACY+ countries were represented at the first international workshop: Dominican Republic, Ghana, Mauritius, Morocco, Philippines, Senegal, Sri Lanka and Tonga. In addition, several countries of the European Union’s Eastern Partnership initiative also participated in the event: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia and Moldova.
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