Cyber Security Must Take Priority Over Facebook

With cyber war being termed a “lead pipe cinch,” it is right on center stage. Representatives of 27 countries have issued a document calling for a European Commission to do a feasibility study on the situation. One of their goals is to gain more ratifications of the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Convention, the only international treaty covering computer crime.

This treaty requires countries to adopt cybercrime laws, have 24-hour contacts available for fast breaking investigations, and other important messages. Another goal is the revocation of Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. This document doesn’t exactly spell out the ministers’ objectives since it is already the practice for many Internet service providers (ISPs) to shut down Web sites showing bad behavior.

There is also a need for the binding of all of the European law enforcement agencies to deal with cybercrime and to evaluate and monitor preventive investigation measures. The aim, scope, and financial structure must also be considered. This puts them in the drivers seat with the U.S. waiting for the bus.

Facebook made changes to its privacy policies and the privacy advocates are swarming all over them. Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Michael Bennet, D-Colo., Al Franken, D-Minn., and Mark Begich, D-Alaska, have taken issue with Facebook and want it to change its newly-asserted privacy policy. “Hundreds of millions of people use social networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter 24/7,” Mr. Schumer said in a recent statement. “As these sites become more and more popular, however, it’s vitally important that safeguards are in place which provide users with control over their personal information to ensure they don’t receive unwanted solicitations. At the same time, social networking sites need to provide easy-to-understand disclosures to users on how information they submit is being shared.”

“Easy to understand disclosures?” Really, Senator?

Senators, this is a noble gesture, however, while your concerns regarding Facebook’s privacy policy is laudable, the entire Internet is faced with a Cyberwar. We, the people of the United States of America, are facing total shutdowns of our communication systems while you are considering censoring social site privacy. Without our success in this confrontation, we can end up with depleted American cyberspace and the social networks, per se, may disappear into oblivion. Before long, it won’t be Facebook, as you state, “looking like the Wild West,” it will be the Internet. thebulletin.