EXPERT SPEAKERS CONFIRMED FOR UPCOMING INFORMATIONAL BRIEFING ON CYBERCRIME  

News Release from Office of Rep Kym Pine (R-Ewa) 

HONOLULU – The lineup of expert speakers has been finalized for the Informational Briefing on Cybercrime to be held Tuesday, July 12 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol, Conference Room 309.  

Event highlights will include a real cyber attack on consumer computers to illustrate the rapid and extensive nature of these invasions.

The confirmed presenters will cover the following topics:

• Chief Gary A. Yabuta, Maui County Department of Police will address the growing sophistication of these crimes and the challenge this presents to police officers;
• Detective Christopher Duque, retired 30-year veteran of the HPD Criminal Investigation Division will share his views as one of the leading experts in cyber security;
• Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Chris Van Marter, White Collar Crime Unit, will discuss the challenges of prosecuting cybercrimes and the need for stronger state statutes;
• Mr. Jason Martin, President and CEO of Secure DNA, will demonstrate a cyber attack for lawmakers and discuss the pervasiveness of cyber criminal activity;
• Mr. Beau Monday, Information Security and Technology Officer for Hawaiian Telcom, will share how Hawaii’s main phone carrier is addressing this issue;
• Dr. Thanh Truc Nguyen, Principal Investigator, UH College of Education, will summarize her two-year US Department of Justice-funded study on Internet safety issues in Hawaii;
• A representative from the State’s Information Privacy and Security Council has also been invited to brief legislators.

The briefing will be convened by retired Police Captain George Fontaine, who now serves as a representative from Maui. The co-convener of the event will be Rep. Kymberly Pine of Ewa Beach.

"It is our hope that stronger legislation will be introduced next year that addresses these emerging cyber crimes. We must do everything we can to protect the people of Hawaii from these attacks and give prosecutors the tools to ensure justice is served for victims,” said Rep. Kymberly Pine.

“The astounding thing about this type of crime is the variety of abuses. Attacks can come from a known acquaintance or a complete stranger sitting on his or her computer on the other side of the world and can cause financial, social and emotional damage,” said Rep. George Fontaine.

Cybercrime includes a broad range of issues, including harassment, financial fraud, identity fraud and theft, stalking, bullying and luring underage minors via the Internet.

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