[Ecommerce] OECD Governments Launch Drive to Improve Security of Online Networks

[James Love]

Julie Harris provided this link.


http://www.oecd.org/EN/document/0,,EN-document-0-nodirectorate-no-12-33186-0,00.html

OECD Governments Launch Drive to Improve Security of Online Networks


07/08/2002 - OECD governments have drawn up new Guidelines for the Security 
of Information Systems and Networks in the wake of last year's September 11 
attacks in the United States, in order to counter cyberterrorism, computer 
viruses, hacking and other threats.

The Guidelines are designed to develop a "culture of security" among 
government, business and users in an environment of worldwide expansion of 
communications networks, increasing interconnectivity across national 
borders, converging technologies and ever more powerful personal computers.

Amid growing worldwide dependence on information systems and networks, the 
Guidelines demonstrate OECD governments' commitment to the stable and 
productive development of online communications. They urge all users of 
information technology, including governments, businesses and individuals, 
to adhere to and implement nine basic principles covering such areas as 
security awareness and responsibility and respect for ethical and democratic 
values.

Although the Guidelines are non-binding, they are the product of a consensus 
between OECD governments resulting from discussions that also involved 
representatives of the information technology industry, business users and 
civil society. OECD governments and other participants will draw on them in 
establishing policies, measures and training programmes for online security.

Governments in other countries are invited to adopt a similar approach, 
while businesses are asked to factor security into the design and use of 
their systems and networks and provide security information and updates to 
users. All individual users are urged to be aware and responsible and take 
preventive measures to lessen the security risks inherent in an 
interconnected world.

These Guidelines replace guidelines first issued in 1992 as a basis for 
improving international co-ordination and co-operation to meet the evolving 
challenges and risks posed by threats to information systems and networks.

The text of the Guidelines is available in English, French and Spanish. For 
more information on the Guidelines and other aspects of OECD work on 
communications technology, journalists should contact: Taizo Nakatomi in the 
OECD's Science, Technology and Industry Directorate (Tel:[33] 1 45 24 96 93) 
or go to www.oecd.org//sti/security-privacy.



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James Love, Consumer Project on Technology
http://www.cptech.org, mailto:love@cptech.org
voice: 1.202.387.8030; mobile 1.202.361.3040