• The UN General Assembly adopted the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, a landmark global treaty aimed at strengthening international cooperation to combat cybercrime and protecting societies from digital threats.

• The resolution containing the Convention was adopted without a vote by the 193-member General Assembly.

• The agreement on the legally binding treaty marked the culmination of a five-year effort by UN Member States, with inputs from civil society, information security experts, academia and the private sector.

• With the adoption of this Convention, Member States have at hand the tools and means to strengthen international cooperation in preventing and combating cybercrime, protecting people and their rights online.

• It is the first international criminal justice treaty to have been negotiated in over 20 years.

• The UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) served as secretariat to the negotiations. 

Key benefits:

• Billions of people worldwide are set to benefit from enhanced safety online and in the physical world following the adoption of a legally binding treaty on cybercrime by the UN General Assembly.

• The Convention against Cybercrime acknowledges the significant risks posed by the misuse of information and communications technologies (ICT), which enable criminal activities on an unprecedented scale, speed, and scope.

• It highlights the adverse impacts such crimes can have on States, enterprises, and the well-being of individuals and society, and focuses on protecting them from offences such as terrorism, human trafficking, drug smuggling and online financial crimes.

• It also recognises the growing impact of cybercrime on victims and prioritises justice, especially for vulnerable groups. 

• It aims to prevent and combat cybercrime more efficiently and effectively, including by strengthening international cooperation and by providing technical assistance and capacity-building support, particularly for developing countries.

• The Convention creates an unprecedented platform for collaboration in the exchange of evidence, protection for victims and prevention, while safeguarding human rights online.

A critical tool for a growing threat

• In 2023, about 67.4 per cent of the world’s population accessed the Internet, according to reports. People rely on connectivity for tasks ranging from communication and shopping to advanced research and innovation.

• However, this connectivity also exposes more than two-thirds of the global population to the dangers of cybercrime. For those on the wrong side of the digital divide, the lack of resilience further increases vulnerability once they get online.

• Cybercriminals exploit digital systems using malware, ransomware, and hacking to steal money, data, and other valuable information. Information and communications technology are also used to facilitate crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering and fraud.

• Regions like Southeast Asia have been described as “ground zero” for organised cybercrime operations, which are often highly sophisticated and coordinated. The threat is escalating, undermining economies, disrupting critical infrastructure, and eroding trust in digital systems.

• Until now, there has been no globally negotiated convention on cybercrime. 

• The new Convention against Cybercrime will enable faster, better-coordinated, and more effective responses, making both digital and physical worlds safer.

• Investigating transnational crimes, whether online or offline, depends heavily on electronic evidence, which poses unique challenges for law enforcement. The Convention focuses on frameworks for accessing and exchanging electronic evidence, facilitating investigations and prosecutions. 

• States Parties will benefit from a 24x7 network to boost international cooperation, enabling assistance with investigations, prosecutions, crime proceeds recovery, mutual legal assistance, and extradition.

• Online platforms such as social media, chat apps and games offer anonymity that predators can exploit to groom, manipulate, or harm children. The Convention is the first global treaty to specifically address sexual violence against children committed with information and communication technologies (ICT). By criminalising these offences, the Convention equips governments with stronger tools to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice.

• The Convention encourages States to provide victims with access to recovery services, compensation, restitution, and the removal of illicit content. This support will be delivered according to each country’s domestic laws.

• Preventing cybercrime requires robust investments in proactive measures, which the Convention strongly emphasizes. It urges States to develop comprehensive prevention strategies, including training for public and private sectors, offender rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, and support for victims. 

• With these measures, the Convention aims to reduce risks and manage threats effectively, fostering a safer digital environment for all.

What next? 

The Convention against Cybercrime will open for signature at a formal ceremony to be hosted in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2025. It will enter into force 90 days after being ratified by the 40th signatory.

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