Key Points
- A new UN cybercrime treaty is set to be signed this weekend in Vietnam. The pact is facing heavy criticism from human rights groups and major tech companies.
- Critics warn that its vague language could be used to suppress free speech and expand surveillance.
- They are calling it a “surveillance treaty” that could be abused by authoritarian governments.
- The choice of Vietnam as the host has also drawn criticism due to the country’s human rights record.
A landmark UN cybercrime treaty is set to be signed this weekend in Vietnam, but the agreement is already facing a storm of criticism from human rights activists and major tech companies. They warn that the pact, which is meant to fight online crime, is so vaguely worded that it could be used to suppress free speech and expand government surveillance.
The convention is an unprecedented global effort to create a unified front against cybercrime, which costs the world trillions of dollars each year. The UN hopes it will make it easier for countries to work together to catch online criminals.
However, critics are calling it a “surveillance treaty.” They are worried that its broad definitions of cybercrime could be used to target journalists, activists, and even ethical hackers. A coalition of tech companies, including Meta and Microsoft, has warned the treaty could make it “easier, not harder, for criminals to engage in cybercrime.”
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has also raised concerns, stating that similar laws “are frequently used to impose undue restrictions on the right to freedom of expression.”
Adding to the controversy is the choice of Vietnam as the host for the signing ceremony. The country has a poor human rights record, and critics say its selection “sends a very bad signal.”
Despite the backlash, the treaty is moving forward. The EU and Canada have confirmed they will sign, saying the pact includes safeguards for human rights.
