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Microsoft Calls For 'Digital Geneva Convention' (usatoday.com)

Posted by msmash on from the time-to-sort-things dept.

Microsoft is calling for a digital Geneva Convention to outline protections for civilians and companies from government-sponsored cyberattacks. In comments Tuesday at the RSA security industry conference in San Francisco, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith said the rising trend of government entities wielding the internet as a weapon was worrying. From a report on USA Today: In the cyber realm, tech must be committed to "100% defense and zero percent offense," Smith said at the opening keynote at the RSA computer security conference. Smith called for a "digital Geneva Convention," like the one created in the aftermath of World War II which set ground rules for how conduct during wartime, defining basic rights for civilians caught up armed conflicts. In the 21st century such rules are needed "to commit governments to protect civilians from nation-state attacks in times of peace," a draft of Smith's speech released to USA TODAY said. This digital Geneva Convention would establish protocols, norms and international processes for how tech companies would deal with cyber aggression and attacks of nations aimed at civilian targets, which appears to effectively mean anything but military servers.

4 of 148 comments (clear)

  1. Of course its Microsoft by JustNiz · · Score: 1, Troll

    Because theirs is by far the most architecturally broken and bodged, therefore most insecure and vulnerable OS.

    1. Re:Of course its Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      Because theirs is by far the most architecturally broken and bodged, therefore most insecure and vulnerable OS.

      Yes that's why I'm doing my part! ... by not running Windows. I particularly refuse to run the spyware known as Windows 10.

      So I can be satisfied that my choices have contributed to "cyberpeace" in the world. My OpenBSD and Linux systems won't be participating in a botnet. Maybe we can start a campaign to show the world how unpatriotic the Windows users are?

    2. Re:Of course its Microsoft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      Oh how far down Slashdot has fallen. This place used to be supportive of Linux, BSD and other good, secure operating systems. Now it's a haven for Microsoft shills and spyware advocates.

      At least we still have Phoronix in tact.

  2. Let's take a step back. by hackwrench · · Score: 1, Troll

    Maybe we should restore general law literacy first. The way things currently are, law is enforced strictly at the whims of the powerful.