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E-Courts: Toward Information Protection Management Structures. Presentation to the RNSA Workshop “Social Implications of Security Measures” University of Wollongong 29 May 2006 Mark Burdon & Dr. Lauren May Information Security Institute (ISI) Queensland University of Technology.
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E-Courts: Toward Information Protection Management Structures Presentation to the RNSA Workshop “Social Implications of Security Measures” University of Wollongong 29 May 2006 Mark Burdon & Dr. Lauren May Information Security Institute (ISI) Queensland University of Technology
Introduction • Electronic courts (e-courts) research • Relatively un-chartered territory • Background paper to raise potential IS issues • Lessons learnt - USA to Australia • Develop IS management structures & standards • Specific to e-courts
Definitions • Information protection is information security • Defining e-courts • The “paperless trial”, the web-based forum or the automated process? • “a body with an adjudicative function that makes use of ICTs to run proceedings.” • Defining courtroom technology • …generic expression…numerous forms of technology…may or may not be present in a courtroom. (Lederer, 2005)
E-courts in Action • Courtroom 21 - the “paperless court” • http://www.bbcworld.com/content/clickonline_archive_45_2004.asp?pageid=666&co_pageid=2
E-courts & IS – The US Experience • National Center for State Courts (NCSC) • E-courts Conference 2004 • Messing & Teppler • Transparency and reliability challenges • Issues of trust and integrity of judicial orders • Real-life Californian example • “no longer can we presume courts have authoritative record … unless court computer security is technically assured”
Implications for Australian E-courts • QUT E-courts Conference - Caelli 2003 • SMH e-court layout • Three potential issues • End to end security • Security of court archives • Time/date stamping & electronic signatures • Security issues to address
Preliminary Findings & Contentions • Lack of formal research • Ad hoc development to process realignment • Initially… limited ICT use – small risk • Now…court systems re-aligning processes • Future…increasing risk • Courts need total confidence in the integrity of their systems • Significant damage to court reputation • Society trust in court decisions • Critical information infrastructure
Next Steps • ARC Linkage Grant • Develop IS management structures • Identify usage properties & match to IS techniques • “Lessons learnt” from the USA • Develop IS standards • Quality service of technology • Achieve fundamental security goals • A conceptual “set of standards” • Upper management to best practice checklist
Summary • ICT usage is increasing in courts • National interest - integrity of E-court process • System of certainty could becomeuncertain • Instability could weaken trust & confidence • IS frameworkvital to e-court development • While structures are constructed • Central and not afterthought • Challenge automatic assumptions • Informed policy making about future of IS & e-courts
Thank You • Questions? • Email: m.burdon@qut.edu.au