G8 nations paralysed by indecision on cybercrime

After three days of talking, the G8 countries have failed to propose any concrete plan of action to tackle cybercrime.

But delegates at the Cybercriminality conference in Paris agreed the global security problem was urgent and said "novel" solutions were needed.

Gaylen Duncan, Canadian delegate from the Information Technology Association, said: "Hacking is a very serious civil and criminal issue. But no, we have not made plans on how to tackle it, but it is on the agenda and we've all exchanged email addresses."

David Oxsmith, a delegate from Intel, expanded on what the novel solutions could be. He said: "There are many technologies that can greatly increase security. These include smartcards, biometrics and IP security specifications. What is meant as "novel" from a technology point-of-view is to continue combining technologies so that interoperability makes the Internet more secure."

There is also a divide between US and European delegates over the best way to regulate the Internet.

Ron Moritz, CTO at Symantec, said: "The US clearly wants self-regulation and not legislation of the Internet, but it is less clear that the Europeans are in sync with this strategy."

Many European delegates favour the Council of Europe's convention, which sets out a legal framework for regulating Internet activities.

Earlier in the conference, there was talk among US delegates of creating a cyber-police force that would transcend all countries and borders. But James Robinson, head of the US delegation, denied that his country wanted to create an elite force. He said he had spoken to Janet Reno, US attorney general and she favoured co-operation rather than force.