http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americ....ap/index.html
Canada signs protocol to fight 'cyberhate'

STRASBOURG, France (AP) -- Canada became the first non-European
country Friday to sign up to combat "cyberhate," the online
dissemination of xenophobic propaganda.

Canada signed an additional protocol to the international cybercrime
convention, drafted in 2001 by the Council of Europe.

Signed by several dozen countries, including Canada, the United
States, South Africa and Japan, the convention names four types of
cybercrime: confidentiality offenses, notably breaking into computers;
fraud and forgery; content violations, such as child pornography and
racism; and copyright offenses.

The treaty aims to speed up international cooperation in
investigations and extraditions.

The additional protocol widens the scope of the convention to combat
xenophobic propaganda and calls on countries to criminalize its
distribution via computer as well as Internet sites that deny or
approve of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The cybercrime convention constitutes a basis for Canada's law
criminalizing racist hatred on the Internet, said Canada's Justice
Minister Irwin Cotler after signing the additional protocol.

snip

"Considering the events of recent years,
the world has a long way to go to regain
its credibility and reputation with the US."
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