Democratic senators urge Biden administration to address human rights in UN Cybercrime Convention

Six Democratic senators are urging the Biden administration to address human rights and cybersecurity concerns in the upcoming UN Cybercrime Convention, warning it could enable authoritarian surveillance and weaken privacy protections.

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Six Democratic senators have urged the Biden administration to address critical concerns about human rights and cybersecurity in the upcoming United Nations Cybercrime Convention, which is set for a vote at the UN General Assembly. In a letter to top officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, the senators—Tim Kaine, Jeff Merkley, Ed Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Ron Wyden, and Cory Booker—expressed alarm over the convention’s handling of privacy rights, freedom of expression, and cybersecurity.

The letter warns that the current version of the treaty, supported by US lead negotiator Ambassador Deborah McCarthy, risks aligning the US with repressive regimes under the pretence of cybersecurity. The senators voiced concerns that the treaty, which originated as a Russian proposal in 2017, could enable authoritarian states to legitimise surveillance, suppress dissent, and infringe on human rights globally.

While the Biden administration tried to revise the text, the senators argued that these changes needed revision. The treaty’s provisions require countries to enact laws that allow local law enforcement access to electronic data, threaten privacy rights, and potentially enable surveillance without judicial oversight. The top diplomat warned of serious fallout if the US fails to back the treaty.

The letter also criticises the treaty for lacking clear protections for journalists and security researchers, whose work often involves uncovering vulnerabilities that malicious actors could exploit. The senators warn that this oversight could weaken cybersecurity without explicit safeguards, making sensitive systems more vulnerable to attack.