US plans to support controversial cybercrime UN treaty despite fears it could be misused

Date:
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 19:27:00 +0000

Description:
Top officials confirm the US plans to vote in favour of the controversial cybercrime convention.

FULL STORY

A new draft of the UN Cybercrime Convention is set to face a key vote, and
the Biden administration is reportedly set to support the treaty, despite criticism from digital rights organizations and human rights campaigners.

The convention is the first piece of legally binding legislation from the UN regarding cybersecurity, and its supporters hope to use it to establish a global framework for states to use to investigate and prevent cybercrime.

However, not only does Cisco think the treaty falls short of sufficiently protecting basic human rights, but some campaigners have said this convention will actually make it easier for authoritarian regimes to abuse their power
and expand policing and surveillance.

Extensive deliberation

US officials confirmed there had been consultations with allied states and reviewed hundreds of written submissions from non-government organizations,
and ultimately decided to remain with consensus.

A contributing factor to the support from the US was the need to influence later amendments and updates to the treaty, which would be made easier by support from the early stages.

A group of Democratic senators recently wrote the treaty could legitimize efforts by authoritarian countries to censor and surveil internet users and political activists.

While the executive branchs efforts to steer this treaty in a less-harmful direction are commendable, more must be done to keep the convention from
being used to justify such actions, the senators said in a joint letter to
the Secretary of State, Attorney General, and others.

A primary concern for digital rights groups is that the treaty doesnt focus
on crimes committed against computer systems, such as ransomware . Instead,
the legislation focuses on digital communication systems, and could be used
as an extension of police surveillance powers rather than protecting internet users and companies from cybercrime.

Via Politico

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-plans-to-support-controversial-cyber crime-un-treaty-despite-fears-it-could-be-misused

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