The Month: US Senate ratifies Convention on Cybercrime

The Council of Europe's Convention on Cybercrime, which aims to increase international cooperation on internet investigations, is the first international treaty covering computer-related crime and the gathering of electronic evidence. Fifteen European nations, including Albania, Denmark, France, Norway and the Ukraine, have already fully ratified the final document, although the UK has yet to do so.

US Attorney General Alberto R Gonzales said in a statement: "This treaty provides important tools in the battles against terrorism, attacks on computer networks and the sexual exploitation of children over the internet by strengthening US cooperation with foreign countries in obtaining electronic evidence."