Blitz Bureau
INDIA expects that the landmark international treaty to fight cybercrime will be a very strong force to fight the threat through international cooperation, according to its delegate to the negotiations for the landmark pact.
The 193 members of the United Nations reached a consensus for a comprehensive treaty to fight cybercrimes, ranging from terrorism and hacking to financial fraud and child porn after more than two years of negotiations.
“We anticipate that this treaty will establish a very strong foundation for international cooperation, one that allows us to effectively combat cyber threats while respecting the sovereignty of each nation,” Arvinder Singh, India’s representative at the negotiations has said. Speaking at the concluding session of the negotiating committee on August 9, he said, “This will act as a strong deterrent against the cyber criminals who exploit the boundaries of nations while committing cybercrimes.”
The finalisation of this Convention is a landmark step as the first multilateral anti-crime treaty in over 20 years and the first UN Convention against Cybercrime at a time when threats in cyberspace are growing rapidly.
The negotiating committee was set up under a 2019 General Assembly resolution and it worked through more than two years of discussions to arrive at the consensus. India is optimistic with the continued cooperation and commitment from all participating countries. It can forge an agreement that will not only serve its individual interest, but also contribute to the global good.
The 40-page treaty draft seeks to create uniform standards for determining cybercrimes and to require countries to enact legislation against them, while setting up avenues to fight them together. It will require countries to cooperate in prosecuting cybercriminals committing offences across borders and sharing electronic traffic information and other data.
