Asian countries discuss combating internet crimes

BANGKOK: -- Thailand and seven other Asian and South Pacific countries have been discussing ways of combating criminals using the Internet and other information technology (IT) to commit crimes.

More than a hundred experts from Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, Myanmar, China, South Korea Japan and Cambodia have been exchanging information and views on the seriousness and complexity of Internet crimes, Justice Minister Pongthep Thepkanjana told TNA after the meeting started in Bangkok on Wednesday.

Internet crimes are borderless; and therefore, close cooperation between countries is essential to tackle these crimes and trace the culprits, he said.

The crime rate in each country depends on how large the cyber community is, the minister added.

Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, where 80% of the population use the Internet, are facing many more crimes than Thailand, where only 10% of the population have access to the Internet.

Pornographic websites, cruel and immoral online games are crimes in Thailand and several other countries.

But other countries may view them differently.

Common regulations are needed and criteria agreed for international cooperation in dealing with these crimes, the commander of IT Crimes office, Pol. Col. Yahapol Yangyeun said.

The most common cyber crime in Thailand is hacking into data on debit cards and long-distance phone call systems.

These types of crime will increase as a country's IT advances, he said.

The sixth meeting of the Information Technology Crime Fighter Teams from the eight Asian and South Pacific countries is being held in Bangkok from 15 to 17 December, in which representatives from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand are taking part.

--TNA 2004-12-16

What is considered crime? Each country has different criteria, so finding common ground won't be easy. There are, for instance, Thai taboos that other nations don't share. Online violation of those taboos may offend Thais, but other countries such as Australia may not take action against it, especially if business interests are also involved.

To tackle borderless crimes truly effectively, the world has to become borderless. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

Edited December 17, 200421 yr by SiamJai

What is considered crime? Each country has different criteria, so finding common ground won't be easy.  There are, for instance, Thai taboos that other nations don't share. Online violation of those taboos may offend Thais, but other countries such as Australia may not take action against it, especially if business interests are also involved. 

To tackle borderless crimes truly effectively, the world has to become borderless. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Couldn't agree more! Although looking at certain things on the web may be considered immoral, doesn't mean they're ILLEGAL!

If I play online casino games from my house here in Thailand, using a UK credit card, connected to a server in the US, where do we go from there....???

Too confusing, it will never happen!