High-tech crime target of new board

Monday, Jan. 3, 2000 | 10:43 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- One of Attorney General Frankie Sue Del Papa's priorities in the new year will be establishing a structure to fight high-tech crime.

The 1999 Legislature approved the Omnibus High Technology Crime Bill and created an advisory board, which meets in Reno Jan. 19 to hire an executive director.

"It seems appropriate that the executive director, who will be responsible for coordinating statewide law enforcement, education and training efforts, starts this job at the beginning of a new century and a new millennium," Del Papa said.

"Only through the cooperative efforts of both the private and public sectors can we effectively address high-technology crime issues."

The law specifies penalties for breaking into or corrupting computer files, spreading a computer virus or disrupting service not only for computers but for telephones, pagers, cell phones or fax machines.

It allows a victim to file suit to collect damages and it requires providers of Internet services to keep certain information confidential about its customers.

These are important issues, Del Papa said "as we enter an age where the computer and the Internet are becoming an even more intricate part of our daily lives."

Del Papa will get the help of the advisory board, nine members from government and private industry, to "facilitate cooperation between state, local and federal officers in detecting, investigating and prosecuting technological crimes."

Besides hiring an executive director, the advisory board is required to set up multiagency task forces in Las Vegas and Reno composed of investigators, prosecutors and those in private industry who are knowledgeable in the prevention and detection of high-tech crime.