UN Committee Approves Controversial Cybercrime Treaty
A UN committee has approved the first-ever global cybercrime treaty despite significant opposition from human rights organizations and major tech companies. The treaty, which has been three years in the making, now awaits a crucial vote from the General Assembly this fall, requiring ratification by at least 40 nations to take effect.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
The treaty mandates UN member states to criminalize unauthorized access to information and communication systems, addressing crimes such as the online production and distribution of child sexual content, grooming, and computer-related forgery or theft. It also seeks to curb the spread of deepfake and revenge porn by compelling states to enact laws against these practices. To facilitate convictions, the treaty allows states to collect relevant data and requires service providers to hand over incriminating information.
Last-Minute Revisions and Resistance
Despite approval, the treaty’s adoption faced last-minute challenges from some states, with Russia criticizing the inclusion of too many human rights safeguards. Russia, which initiated the treaty process in 2017, accused other countries of using the treaty to further their own agendas. The last significant UN action on cybercrime was the 2001 Budapest Convention, which many countries did not endorse.
Tech Industry and Human Rights Concerns
In a last-ditch effort to halt the treaty, the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, representing tech companies at the UN, labeled the treaty as “ambiguous” and lacking in protections for human rights, press freedom, and gender equality. Concerns were raised about the treaty’s potential to criminalize legitimate online activities and make it harder for cybercrime victims to seek justice. Microsoft echoed these sentiments, criticizing the treaty’s broad provisions and weakened human rights safeguards.
Human Rights Advocates Sound the Alarm
Human rights advocates, including the UN’s Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), expressed deep concerns that the treaty could undermine international law and key freedoms like freedom of expression. Former UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, David Kaye, warned that the treaty could empower authoritarian regimes while failing to protect democratic values, urging the US not to sign it.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Yahoo News UK
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