Peru and the U.S. join efforts to combat cybercrime

By Espinosa Bellido Abogados

More than 30 judges, prosecutors, and police officers from Peru, Argentina and Uruguay participated in a conference on cybercrime organized by the U.S. Department of Justice’s International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) program and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The conference allowed participants to learn techniques for online investigation, collection of digital evidence from a simulated crime scene, and presentation of evidence in court.

The goal of the conference was to ensure that evidence obtained in investigations can be used effectively and persuasively in court to achieve lasting convictions and deterrent sentences for criminal activity.

Online hackers and cybercriminals are constantly evolving their techniques, so it is important that law enforcement agencies around the world also make efforts to keep up to date. These training events allow participating countries to focus on these types of crimes through the exchange of best practices and techniques for investigating online crimes.

“Intellectual property crimes jeopardize the health and safety of our citizens and threaten the very foundations of our economies,” said U.S. Ambassador to Uruguay Heide B. Fulton during the opening ceremony of the conference. “Crimes such as digital piracy can cost local economies billions in lost revenue, lost income for citizens and workers, and unrealized taxes for host countries.”

The United States looks to establish and strengthen strategic alliances with its partners in the region to enhance local and global security.

The International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property (ICHIP) program is not an independent organization, but rather a collaborative effort  by various US government bodies to combat cybercrime and intellectual property theft on an international scale.

It is jointly administered by the Office of Prosecution Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT) and the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division.