U.N. member states have approved a historic treaty targeting cybercrime after three years of negotiations, marking a significant milestone in global efforts to combat online criminal activities. Despite opposition from human rights activists, the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime was adopted by consensus and will now be submitted to the General Assembly for formal adoption.
The treaty aims to enhance the prevention and combatting of cybercrime, particularly in areas such as child sexual abuse imagery and money laundering. While some delegates have praised the treaty for providing much-needed support to countries with less developed cyber infrastructures, critics argue that the treaty is overly broad and could potentially be used for surveillance and repression.
An alliance of human rights activists and big tech companies have raised concerns about the treaty’s implications, with some warning of unprecedented surveillance capabilities. Despite objections, the treaty was adopted without addressing major flaws identified by civil society and the private sector.
It remains to be seen how the treaty will be implemented by member nations and whether it will strike an appropriate balance between combating cybercrime and upholding human rights.
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