Office of Internet Enforcement

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of Internet Enforcement (OIE) was formed in July 1998 to administer the Enforcement Division's Internet program. Although the Internet has "brought significant benefits to investors; most notably, enhanced access to information (both in speed and quantity) and lower costs to execute trades, [at] the same time, unfortunately, the Internet has opened new avenues for fraud artists to attempt to swindle the investing public." The OIE is charged with combatting this online fraud.

The OIE and the SEC's Office of Investor Education and Assistance manage the SEC Complaint Center. The OIE "coordinates Internet-related 'Enforcement Sweeps,' in which similar types of Internet misconduct are targeted for investigation and, where appropriate, prosecution [and] ... also serves as a liaison on Internet matters with other regulatory agencies and both national and international law enforcement agencies."

Other SourceWatch Resources

 * cybercrime
 * critical infrastructure
 * Department of Homeland Security
 * Echelon
 * globalization
 * homeland security
 * information infrastructure
 * internet surveillance
 * psyops
 * spam
 * spyware
 * Total Information Awareness