On Monday, UN member states convene to finalize an international treaty aimed at combating cybercrime, a move strongly contested by a surprising coalition of human rights organizations and major tech firms. The 'United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime' was initiated in 2017 when Russian diplomats proposed the idea to the UN secretary-general. Despite opposition from the US and Europe, the General Assembly established an intergovernmental committee in 2019 to draft the treaty. Now, after a series of negotiations, the draft is set to be voted on by member states at the conclusion of a two-week session. However, criticisms have intensified, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights noting 'significant shortcomings' in the draft that do not align with international human rights standards.
The draft treaty aims to enhance the prevention and combat of cybercrime, particularly in areas like child pornography and money laundering, and to foster international cooperation. Critics argue that the treaty's scope is overly broad, potentially enabling governments to investigate activities such as same-sex relationships, government criticism, investigative journalism, protest participation, and whistleblowing. Tirana Hassan, executive director of Human Rights Watch, describes the treaty as resembling a global surveillance agreement rather than a focused cybercrime treaty.
The debate has united unusual allies, including rights groups and tech giants like Microsoft, which believes 'no outcome is better than a bad outcome.' Nick Ashton-Hart, representing over 100 tech companies, suggests alternative treaties like the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime might be more effective. Unless the current draft significantly improves, his organization will urge member states not to sign or ratify it. Russia, defending its stance, argues that excessive focus on human rights could hinder international law enforcement cooperation.
