Event recording
After three years of negotiations, initiated by Russia in 2017, the UN Member States at the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) adopted the draft of the first globally binding legal instrument on cybercrime. This convention will now be presented to the UN General Assembly for formal adoption later this year. The Chair emphasised that the convention represents a criminal justice legal instrument and that the aim is, therefore, to combat cybercrime by prohibiting certain behaviours by physical persons, rather than to regulate the behaviour of Member States.
The adoption of the convention has proceeded despite significant opposition from human rights groups, civil society, and technology companies, who have raised concerns about potential risks of increased surveillance. In July, DiploFoundation invited experts from various stakeholder groups to discuss their expectations before the final round of UN negotiations, and to review the draft treaty. Experts noted an unprecedented alignment between industry and civil society on concerns with the draft, emphasising the urgent need for a treaty focused on core cybercrime offences, strengthened by robust safeguards and clear intent requirements.
Once formally adopted, how will the UN cybercrime convention impact the security of users in the cyber environment? What does this legal instrument actually say about the cross-border cooperation in combating cybercrime? What human rights protections and safeguards does it provide?
Join us on Oct 22, 2024, at 12:00 CEST for a virtual expert discussion to get the views of several delegates involved in the negotiation process. The session will help understand the contents of the agreed draft convention and its practical implications for all of us.
