Reuters reports that a landmark United Nations agreement aimed at curbing cybercrime that costs the global economy trillions of dollars a year will be signed by representatives of dozens of countries in Hanoi, Vietnam this weekend, even though it has been criticized for its potential impact on human rights. The convention will enter into force upon ratification by 40 countries, which the United Nations expects will make responses to combat cybercrime more rapid and effective.
Activists, major tech companies, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights have all warned of potential abuses due to vague wording on crimes in the convention text, with some critics even arguing that the agreement could encourage rather than deter illegal behavior. The list of signatories has not yet been announced, but the EU and Canada are expected to sign the deal and say it contains safeguards aimed at protecting human rights. The U.S. State Department has not yet responded to whether representatives will attend the signing ceremony.
Vietnam's suitability as host country questioned
Vietnam's bid to host the tournament was controversial due to its human rights record. In August this year, a U.S. State Department report noted that Vietnam had “significant human rights issues,” including restrictions on free speech online. According to Human Rights Watch, at least 40 people have been arrested in Vietnam this year on charges of posting anti-state content online. Vietnamese officials said the one-party state hopes to boost its international profile by hosting the conference and sees the convention as a tool to strengthen its cyber defenses. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is expected to attend the signing ceremony on Saturday.
Critics call the deal a "surveillance treaty"
The "Joint Agreement on Cybersecurity Technology" alliance, composed of technology giants such as Meta and Microsoft, calls the agreement a "surveillance treaty" and believes that it facilitates the exchange of personal data between governments and warns that "this may make cybercrime easier rather than harder." The convention targets a wide range of crime types, from phishing and ransomware to online trafficking and hate speech, according to the United Nations, which cited estimates that global cybercrime costs trillions of dollars annually. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned during the negotiations that "laws that define cybercrime too broadly are often used to unduly restrict the right to freedom of expression". Raman Jit Singh Chima of the rights organization "Access Now" said that the convention may prompt countries to extradite those who have been persecuted, and holding a signing ceremony in Vietnam "sends a very bad signal to human rights defenders."
Vietnam is facing an escalation of cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure and large enterprises. Le Xuan Minh, head of cybersecurity at the Ministry of Public Security, said at a press conference this month that strengthening international cooperation would help identify attackers. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which is leading negotiations on the convention, said the agreement contains provisions to protect human rights and allows countries to refuse requests for cooperation if it conflicts with international law. Activists and technology companies are also concerned that the convention could expose legitimate white hat hackers who test system security vulnerabilities to criminal charges, especially when exposing government security flaws. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime said the convention "encourages" countries to provide support for relevant legitimate research activities.