In pursuing this initiative, the Experts Group will create training materials, provide technical assistance, and conduct regional workshops to assist in the development of government policies and legislation that will help engender trust and confidence in information systems and the Internet by criminalizing misuse of computers and computer networks. The Experts Group’s collaborative training for member states will focus on the modernization of laws and regulations to respond to the challenge of combating cyber-crime. A major objective of these technical training sessions will be to outline the criminal laws and privacy protections necessary to help secure information systems and foster confidence among users of those systems. Specifically, the workshops will focus on the enactment of the following categories of legislation: • Substantive Computer Crime Laws - Every member state should develop criminal and legal prohibitions against attacks on the confidentiality, integrity, and security of computer systems. Conduct, such as accessing computers without authorization, illegal interception of data, interference with the availability of computer systems, and theft and sabotage of data, should be deemed illegal under the law of each member state. • Procedural Laws for Gathering Electronic Evidence - Each nation must also have clear procedures meeting international standards for government access to communications and stored data when needed for the investigation of crimes. Equally important, businesses and consumers must be assured that the government will not unjustifiably monitor their communications, and consumers must be sure that the data they provide to merchants will not be misused. The workshops will focus on the need to draft such laws in a manner that is “technology neutral” (i.e., such laws should address types of crime or types of behavior rather than being drafted only to address a particular type of technology) to prevent newly enacted laws from quickly becoming outdated or irrelevant. The borderless nature of global networks means that a single criminal act involving a computer may affect or target computers in multiple countries. During its regional workshops, the Experts Group will also provide training on how to respond to such challenges in international cooperation and facilitate the exchange of investigative information in cyber-crime cases. Additional emphasis will be placed upon building relationships among the cyber-crime experts within the Hemisphere to facilitate international cooperation and provide ready access to expertise and resources within the region for battling cyber-crime. Following the workshops, the Experts Group will further assist member states by providing legal consultation to support government ministries and legislatures in drafting legislation, regulations, and policies. Expert assistance on a bilateral basis may be required to support governments in the preparation of legislation and policies embodying the core concepts of cybercrime laws, investigative authorities, and privacy. CONCLUSIONS AND FOLLOW-UP TO THE STRATEGY The initiatives of CICTE, CITEL, and REMJA described above each represent a pillar of this Comprehensive Inter-American Cybersecurity Strategy. Together, the concerted multidisciplinary