UK and Kuwait to work together to fight cybercrime

The UK has agreed to work with Kuwait on cybercrime, under a deal to share expertise on international security and counter-terrorism.

The two countries have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will involve "close cooperation" in areas such as e-crime, human trafficking and drug smuggling, the Home Office announced on Monday. Under the arrangement, British experts will work with Kuwait officials to advise the country on developing its security systems.

"Britain is eager to share skills and technological expertise with her friends in the Gulf, and I look forward to a close partnership in a common endeavour with the government of Kuwait," security minister Baroness Pauline Neville-Jones said in the Home Office statement.

Gulf nations have cited the risk to their national security of technology such as the double encryption used for Research In Motion's BlackBerry services, which make it more difficult for governments to monitor communications. Kuwait is reportedly in discussions with RIM over both security and moral concerns relating to BlackBerry use by people within its borders, and United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia have threatened to block BlackBerry services within their borders.

The UK government has not released any information as to how the cooperation with Kuwait will work. "All that's being published with Kuwait is a framework so the details will be forthcoming in the future," the Cabinet Office told ZDNet UK. This includes any details about the cybercrime element of the agreement, it added.