UN treaty sparks debate over digital cybersecurity
Experts warn that the UN treaty may put online privacy and digital cybersecurity at risk.
A new UN cybercrime treaty opened for signature on 25 October, raising concerns about digital cybersecurity and privacy protections. The treaty allows broad cross-border cooperation on serious crimes, potentially requiring states to assist investigations that conflict with domestic laws.
Negotiations revealed disagreements over the treaty’s scope and human rights standards, primarily because it grants broad surveillance powers without clearly specifying safeguards for privacy and digital rights. Critics warn that these powers could be misused, putting digital cybersecurity and the rights of citizens at risk.
Governments supporting the treaty are advised to adopt safeguards, including limiting intrusive monitoring, conditioning cooperation on dual criminality, and reporting requests for assistance transparently. Even with these measures, experts caution that the treaty could pose challenges to global digital cybersecurity protection.
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