UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

The final call: UN member states adopt a new cybercrime treaty

The final call

...The UN has finalized a treaty on cybercrime, after two years of negotiations. While the governments seemed to feel a sense of closure and accomplishment after years of negotiating this treaty, it did not put most stakeholders at ease with...

Posted on 12 Sep 2024

Author(s): Summer Walker, Ana Paula Oliveira

UN Cyberwatch, UN Reform

Cybercrime treaty risks a world of UN-sanctioned online control

...From 29 July to 9 August 2024, state representatives will reconvene at the United Nations in New York to try to agree to a new convention on cybercrime. Members had intended to conclude negotiations at the planned closing session in February 2024, but there was still disagreement on several key issues, not least the title of the treaty – and ...

Posted on 22 Jul 2024

Author(s): Summer Walker

UN - Security and Rights, UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

The risks of a last-minute Cybercrime Treaty Protocol

What's the protocol on protocols?

...As the reconvened session of the Ad Hoc Committee for the UN cybercrime convention approaches from July 29 to August 9, 2024, this brief delves into the potential risks of introducing a supplementary protocol on 'additional crimes' at this late stage. The negotiatio...

Posted on 12 Jul 2024

Author(s): Ian Tennant

UN Cyberwatch

Hitting Pause: The unfinished story of the UN Cybercrime negotiations

Hitting pause

...The attempt by the United Nations (UN) to develop a treaty to address cybercrime – or crimes committed online – has been put on pause. At the February 2024 concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the...

Posted on 27 Mar 2024

Author(s): Ana Paula Oliveira, Summer Walker

UN Cyberwatch

A dream deferred or a near miss? UN committee postpones decision on cybercrime convention

...While supporters of the UN’s cybercrime treaty have seen their dreams deferred with the convention’s postponement, those concerned about the treaty’s potential impact on human rights and freedoms are breathing a momentary sigh of ...

Posted on 15 Feb 2024

Author(s): Darren Brookbanks, Ana Paula Oliveira

UN - Security and Rights, UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

Endgame: The final phase of the UN cybercrime negotiations?

Endgame

...From January 29 to February 9, 2024, UN delegates will meet in New York to conclude discussions on a new cybercrime convention. Different countries have varying ideas about what the treaty should cover and how it should protect human rights and freedom of speech. The negotiations, influenced by major global...

Posted on 19 Jan 2024

Author(s): Ian Tennant

UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

UN Cybercrime Treaty

UN Cybercrime Treaty

... 2023, delegates debated a zero draft of the United Nations Treaty on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, or more succinctly referred to as the ‘cybercrime treaty’, at a UN session in New York. The purpose of the meeting was to agree on as many provisions as possible. However, this progress was not possible as differences between countries contin...

Posted on 03 Nov 2023

UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

The cost of consensus: Sixth session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on cybercrime

...As the final session of the UN cybercrime treaty negotiations draws near, lack of consensus among delegations is hampering the process. But is reaching a final agreement worth the outcome? The penultimate session of the UN Ad Hoc Commi...

Posted on 14 Sep 2023

Author(s): Ian Tennant

UN Cyberwatch

Closing Pandora’s box: UN Cybercrime Treaty negotiations

Closing Pandora's box

...A zero draft of the United Nations Treaty on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, or more succinctly referred to as the cybercrime treaty, has been produced and will be debated in an August 2023 UN session in New York. In this context, states are debating the first global cyber-treaty, with a focus on criminality and state ...

Posted on 17 Aug 2023

Author(s): Summer Walker

UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

Still poles apart: UN Cybercrime Treaty negotiations

Still poles apart

Posted on 12 Jun 2023

Author(s): Summer Walker

UN - Security and Rights, UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

UN ‘Cybercrime Treaty: Legal and human rights safeguards

UN 'Cybercrime Treaty'

...lidated negotiation document proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) for a treaty to counter the use of Information and communications technologies for criminal purposes (broadly referred to as the ‘cybercrime treaty’). This expert consultation enabled a review of the current draft document and the negotiation process from the perspectives of digital rights, international and criminal law, and the ...

Posted on 18 May 2023

Author(s): Ana Paula Oliveira, Summer Walker

UN - Security and Rights, UN Cyberwatch, UN-TOC Watch

UN cybercrime treaty Ad Hoc Committee: Circle remains unsquared

... session, states are still no closer to agreeing on the convention’s key points, so in August delegates will have to consider decisions on key issues – such as the terminology to be used (e.g. ‘cybercrime’ or ‘the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes’); the scope of crimes to be criminalized under the treaty; the scope of cooperation; and human rights and...

Posted on 08 May 2023

Author(s): Ian Tennant, Summer Walker