The United States, through the State Department’s Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, contributed another  $250,000 (225,000 Euros) to the Council of Europe (COE) to support efforts under the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime.  This contribution aims to assist COE efforts in providing legislative drafting advice to developing nations and to support increased participation by developing nations in meetings of the conference of parties.  This is the fourth U.S. voluntary contribution to the COE cybercrime project over the past three years – a total commitment of $804,000 (725,000 Euros) in the U.S. Department of State’s anticrime fund.

The photo shows the U.S. Deputy Permanent Observer to the Council of Europe Amy Westling handing over the letter of agreement offering the funds to COE Deputy Secretary General Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni. (photo credit: COE)

The COE Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, opened for signature in 2001, is the first international treaty on crimes committed via the Internet and other computer networks, dealing in particular with infringements of copyright, computer-related fraud, child pornography, and violations of network security.