A delegation of British MPs heads over to Washington next month to discuss information security with US politicians.

During their three-day trip to Washington, the MPs aim to help set the agenda for international policy on internet security issues, including spam, viruses, zombie computers, rogue diallers and denial of service attacks.

Claire Hobson, DTI head of UK Telecoms Policy, who leads the Government’s anti-spam policy, will join members of All-Party Parliamentary Internet Group, Derek Wyatt MP, Ian Stewart MP and Ian Taylor MP, to represent the UK at meetings with members of congress and officials at federal departments and agencies.

Trip sponsors include the FBI, Microsoft and Messagelabs.

Ed Gibson, FBI special agent and assistant legal attache of the US Embassy in London, said the get-together focuses on an important area of information security policy. "But for the viruses there would be no spam. That's why we see ever more virulent viruses," he told delegates this week at the Computer and Internet Crime Conference in London.

APIG last visited Washington in October 2003. ®

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