EU wants police-private sector cybercrime pact

STRASBOURG, France, May 23 (Reuters) Police across the European Union should team up with the private sector to agree EU-wide blocking of illegal Internet content, especially child pornography, the European Commission said.

''The number of cybercrimes is growing and criminal activities are becoming increasingly sophisticated and internationalised,'' the EU executive said in a report yesterday.

''There is an urgent need to take action, at national as well as European level.'' The EU executive plans to organise this year a conference with police and the industry to consider ways to boost cooperation against cybercrime which ranges from offences such as fraud and the posting of racist images, to hacking.

EU states should try to reach deals with third countries on methods to fight cybercrime as well as on shutting down illegal Web sites, the EU executive said in its report.

The Commission also wants police to make use of cross-border instruments already at their disposal, including a convention on cybercrime, which it argues is not well used.

Many EU states remain wary of pan-EU criminal laws, feeling they impinge on national sovereignty. The Commission said it would limit itself to launching a public consultation this year on having an EU-wide law on identity the over the Internet.

REUTERS DH PM0627