New UN Convention Against Cybercrime: Challenges and Risks
In Hanoi, 65 nations have signed a new UN agreement aimed at combating cybercrime, which includes data sharing and the extradition of suspects. The document will come into effect after ratification by 40 countries. This was reported by Nikkei Asia.
The convention obligates states to criminalize ten types of offenses, ranging from hacking to data forgery, and to provide evidence, including electronic correspondence, upon request from other countries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that supporting this initiative is intended to create a "global collective response" to digital threats.
However, human rights organizations and technology firms warn that the treaty could become a tool for mass surveillance. Representatives of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, which comprises IT companies, claimed that the document is too vague and allows states to demand access to encrypted systems or compel providers to hand over user data without their consent.
Critical remarks have also been made by Human Rights Watch, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and 17 other organizations. They emphasize that the convention permits the exchange of personal data between states outside of specific investigations and without adequate safeguards for human rights.
The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights called for clarification on provisions regarding searches and seizure of digital data to prevent persecution based on political beliefs or freedom of expression.
Vietnamese President Luong Quang described the fight against cybercrime as a "new war" causing trillions in losses to the global economy during the signing ceremony. The convention also contains a section on assisting developing countries to strengthen their cybersecurity.
However, human rights defenders criticize the choice of Vietnam as the host country, recalling the persecution of activists and bloggers. In a joint statement, they noted that even peaceful forms of protest or expression of opinions online could fall under the convention's purview.
