Cyberthreats campaign to apprise people: Interpol

• IAS NEXT, Lucknow
• 08, Oct 2021

Context:

The Interpol has launched an online campaign to apprise people of major cyberthreats to help them protect their computer systems, networks and personal information from cybercriminals.

• The three-week campaign, from October 4 to 22, would be run primarily through social media.

Objective of the campaign:

With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, in addition to increased levels of remote work and dependence on digital devices, the campaign will focus on ransomware, online scams and phishing, and business email compromise.

What is Interpol?

• The International Criminal Police Organisation, or Interpol, is a 194-member intergovernmental organisation.
• headquartered in Lyon, France.
• Formed in 1923 as the International Criminal Police Commission, and started calling itself Interpol in 1956.
• India joined the organisation in 1949, and is one of its oldest members.

Interpol’s declared global policing goals include:

• Countering terrorism, promoting border integrity worldwide, protection of vulnerable communities, providing a secure cyberspace for people and businesses, curbing illicit markets, supporting environment security, and promoting global integrity.

What is the Interpol General Assembly?

• It is Interpol’s supreme governing body, and comprises representatives from all its member countries.
• It meets annually for a session lasting approximately four days, to vote on activities and policy.
• Each country is represented by one or more delegates at the Assembly, who are typically chiefs of law enforcement agencies.
• The Assembly also elects the members of the Interpol Executive Committee, the governing body which “provides guidance and direction in between sessions of the Assembly”.