UN Cybercrime Treaty to be Signed in Hanoi for Global Offense Tackling
Around 60 countries will sign a landmark UN cybercrime treaty aimed at tackling global offenses that cost the world economy trillions of dollars annually.
HANOI: A significant UN cybercrime treaty, intended to combat offenses that deplete the worldwide economy by trillions every year, is set to be signed in Vietnam's capital Hanoi over the weekend by approximately 60 countries.
The agreement will become effective once ratified by 40 nations, aiming to bolster international cooperation against cybercrime; however, it has encountered criticism from activists and tech companies regarding potential human rights violations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized at the opening ceremony that cybercrime has emerged as a prime target for criminals, leading to scams, thefts of livelihoods, and substantial financial losses.
The UN Cybercrime Convention targets a wide range of offenses, including phishing, ransomware, online trafficking, and hate speech, with global economic losses estimated in trillions annually.
Vietnam's President Luong Cuong highlighted the convention's signing as a testament to multilateralism, demonstrating countries' willingness to collaborate for peace, security, stability, and development.
Critics argue that the treaty's vague definition of criminal activities may enable abuse.
The Cybersecurity Tech Accord, which includes major tech firms such as Meta and Microsoft, labels the pact as a 'surveillance treaty', cautioning against potential data sharing among governments and penalizing moral hackers who identify system vulnerabilities for testing purposes.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), orchestrating the negotiations, contends that the agreement includes protections for human rights and encourages legitimate research.
Notable global entities such as the European Union, United States, and Canada have dispatched diplomats and officials to sign the treaty in Hanoi.
Vietnam's hosting role has sparked debate over its own human rights records, especially concerning online censorship.
Human Rights Watch reports at least 40 individuals arrested this year for activities including expressing dissent online.
Despite these concerns, Vietnam views the treaty as a means to bolster its global standing and cyber defenses against escalating attacks on critical infrastructure.
The agreement will become effective once ratified by 40 nations, aiming to bolster international cooperation against cybercrime; however, it has encountered criticism from activists and tech companies regarding potential human rights violations.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres emphasized at the opening ceremony that cybercrime has emerged as a prime target for criminals, leading to scams, thefts of livelihoods, and substantial financial losses.
The UN Cybercrime Convention targets a wide range of offenses, including phishing, ransomware, online trafficking, and hate speech, with global economic losses estimated in trillions annually.
Vietnam's President Luong Cuong highlighted the convention's signing as a testament to multilateralism, demonstrating countries' willingness to collaborate for peace, security, stability, and development.
Critics argue that the treaty's vague definition of criminal activities may enable abuse.
The Cybersecurity Tech Accord, which includes major tech firms such as Meta and Microsoft, labels the pact as a 'surveillance treaty', cautioning against potential data sharing among governments and penalizing moral hackers who identify system vulnerabilities for testing purposes.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), orchestrating the negotiations, contends that the agreement includes protections for human rights and encourages legitimate research.
Notable global entities such as the European Union, United States, and Canada have dispatched diplomats and officials to sign the treaty in Hanoi.
Vietnam's hosting role has sparked debate over its own human rights records, especially concerning online censorship.
Human Rights Watch reports at least 40 individuals arrested this year for activities including expressing dissent online.
Despite these concerns, Vietnam views the treaty as a means to bolster its global standing and cyber defenses against escalating attacks on critical infrastructure.
