un-set-to-sign-historic-cybercrime-treaty-in-hanoi

The UN members are likely to sign a cybercrime treaty on Saturday in Hanoi despite the opposition from an unlikely band of tech companies fearing expanded state surveillance.

 

The new global legal framework aims to strengthen international cooperation to fight crimes in the digital world, including the growing menace of child pornography to international cyber scams and money laundering.

 

Vietnamese President Luong Cuong has described the move as a "historic milestone". Cuong said, “The signing of this historic treaty would send a strong message about our determination to fight cybercrime and build a world of peace, justice, and rule of law, which will benefit us and future generations.”

 

The first-ever UN convention against Cybercrime was proposed by Russia in 2017; however, due to differences and reservations expressed by the countries, the pact is coming into force on Sunday.

 

However, critics of the treaty have said that the language of the draft gives some negative signals, as it could potentially lead to cross-border repression of government critics.

 

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Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, founder of the Tech Global Institute think tank, said, "It's almost rubber-stamping a very problematic practice that has been used against journalists and in authoritarian countries.”

 

The convention will enter into force when ratified by 40 member states, following the signing ceremony in the Vietnamese capital attended by UN chief Antonio Guterres.

 

Earlier this week, Vietnamese authorities said that over 60 countries had registered for the official signing without disclosing the names.

 

In recent times, governments across the world have tried to silence their critics through blockades on the usage of the internet, social media restrictions, and personal profiling of prominent activists. 

 

The activists, while fearing that the signing of this treaty would lead to more repression and curb individual freedom, have acknowledged the need for more strict and coordinated efforts to curb cybercrimes.