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Justice Department wants more funds to fight cyber crime

February 9, 2000
Web posted at: 6:49 p.m. EST (2349 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Growing concern over the increased threat of cyber crime has prompted the Justice Department to request another $37 million next year on top of the estimated $100 million already being spent to combat increasingly sophisticated computer criminals.

Concerns range from attacks on critical infrastructure to major commercial fraud to costly hacking incidents aimed at both the government and private sector.

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The budget request, announced this week before the latest hacking incidents, calls for $8.6 million for the FBI to fund 100 "Computer Analysis and Response Team" members who will be dispatched to support investigation into computer related crimes.

Another $2.8 million would be used to develop the FBI's Automated Computer Examination System which is a data forensics tool that scans thousands of files for identification of known format and executable program files.

Officials say the number of cases involving computer forensic examination has more than doubled in the past two years.

Complexity of computer crimes increasing

Assistant Attorney General Steven Colgate released documents to support the new budget increases.

"The incidence and complexity of computer crime continues to increase rapidly as greater numbers of people develop proficiency in manipulating electronic data and navigating computer networks, and as worldwide access to the Internet continues to expand," according to the budget document.

Colgate said the Justice Department seeks to create a permanent network of experts dedicated to preventing computer crime and prosecuting those responsible.

Another proposed budget hike calls for $8.75 million for the National White Collar Crime Center to continue expanding initiatives for state and local law enforcement and regulatory agencies to meet the increase incidence of hacking and other computer crimes.

Justice also is seeking $6 million to develop up to 10 Regional Computer Forensic Labs and support existing forensic labs.

And the department wants Congress to approve $1 million to gather statistics to measure the magnitude and consequences of computer crime.

Other budget increase requests to combat computer crimes include:

  • $4.1 million to prosecute individuals who produce child pornography, travel across state lines to engage in sex with children, or trade images of child porn over the Internet

  • $3.9 million to investigate and prosecute other crimes involving the Internet, such as stealing trade secrets, embezzling funds over the Internet, or appropriating copyrighted works.

  • $612,000 and eight positions for a joint Intellectual Property Rights Center to be led by the FBI and U.S. Customs Service. The center would investigate infringement of the Economic Espionage Act designed to protect trade secrets, as well as traditional copyright and trademark violations.

  • $586,000 and seven positions (five attorneys) to support the Computer Crime Section within the Justice Department's Criminal Division.

  • $560,000 and four attorney positions to stay abreast of technological changes and developments and to target those who use computers, computer bulletin board systems, and online services to traffic in child porn or interstate transportation to engage in sexually explicit conduct.

    Last month, Attorney General Janet Reno promised some of these new steps to combat cyber-crime.

    In a speech to State Attorneys General at Stanford Law School, Reno called for improved coordination among the states in the fight against computer crime.

    She proposed a round-the-clock cyber-crime network, along with the regional computer forensic labs and a secure on-line clearinghouse for law enforcement to share information about cyber-cases.

    Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas and Producer Terry Frieden contributed to this report



    RELATED SITES:
    Federal Bureau of Investigation - FBI
    National Infrastructure Protection Center


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