On Friday July 26, the United States, together with 40 fellow Member States of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC), issued a joint statement on the UN Convention Against Cybercrime. In advance of the reconvened concluding session of the Ad Hoc Committee to elaborate a UN cybercrime convention, the Coalition has reaffirmed its commitment that the same human rights offline must also be protected online.
The joint statement outlines the opportunity for the Convention to enhance international cooperation on combatting and preventing cybercrime and collecting and sharing electronic evidence for serious crimes. However, the statement raises concerns about how the treaty could be misused as a tool for acts of domestic and transnational repression and human rights abuses and calls for the treaty’s scope to be carefully defined and accompanied by necessary safeguards to fully protect and promote human rights.
The Coalition stands resolute in finalizing a strengthened treaty that includes human rights provisions and safeguards and remains committed to working with countries globally in the fight against cybercrime.
As a founding Member of the FOC and past Chair, the United States continues to advance the Coalition’s mission globally and to promote a rules-based, democratic, and inclusive world where human rights and fundamental freedoms are upheld in online and digital contexts. For further information on the Coalition, please visit the Freedom Online Coalition website.
