Today, the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a Joint Statement on the Adoption of the UN Convention Against Cybercrime. The drafting of the statement was led by the 2024 FOC Chair, the Netherlands, in consultation with FOC Member States and the multistakeholder FOC Advisory Network. It follows the adoption of the Convention by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, 24 December 2024.
The joint statement highlights the active participation of FOC Members in negotiations to develop a practical, rights-respecting and appropriately scoped UN Convention Against Cybercrime. When implemented in accordance with its provisions and coupled with the robust safeguards it prescribes, the Convention holds the potential to improve the global community’s ability to combat pervasive and emerging cybercrime threats.
The statement recognizes the concerns that have been raised about the Convention, including those from the FOC’s Advisory Network, particularly regarding the intrusive nature of some of the procedural measures for law enforcement and the broad scope of international cooperation, including for the sharing of evidence in electronic form. It emphasizes that FOC Member States have consistently advocated for the necessity of effective human rights protections and safeguards, which are crucial for building trust and enabling international cooperation on criminal matters.
The statement also underscores the importance and value of a multistakeholder approach in incorporating perspectives from governments, civil society, the private sector, international organizations, media, and the technical and academic communities in the fight against cybercrime, and reaffirms the FOC’s commitment to continue the involvement of these stakeholders in the Conference of States Parties and implementation of the Convention.
The Coalition previously issued a Joint Statement on the Convention in July of 2024, which further underscored that an international treaty on cybercrime requires commitment to full compliance with existing international human rights law and robust safeguards related to domestic law enforcement powers and international cooperation.
To view the full statement, view the document below or visit the following page.
