Hanoi, Vietnam — October 25, 2025:
More than 60 United Nations member states have officially signed the UN Convention Against Cybercrime in Hanoi, marking the first global treaty designed to combat cybercrime. The agreement, however, faces sharp criticism from technology firms, privacy advocates, and human rights groups who warn it could be used to justify expanded state surveillance and cross-border repression of activists and journalists.

---

A New Global Framework to Combat Digital Crime

The newly signed UN Cybercrime Treaty 2025 aims to enhance international cooperation in tackling digital crimes, including child exploitation, online financial fraud, transnational cyberscams, and money laundering.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the accord as an “important milestone” in global cybersecurity, emphasizing that cybercrime has evolved into one of the most destructive forces in modern society.

“Every day, sophisticated scams destroy families, exploit migrants, and drain billions from our global economy,” Guterres said during the signing ceremony. “We need a strong, unified, and connected international response.”

The treaty will come into force once it is ratified by the signing nations — a process expected to take several months.

---

Origins and Controversy

The UN Convention Against Cybercrime was first introduced by Russia in 2017 and formally adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2024 after years of negotiation. While proponents argue it provides the first legally binding framework to fight cybercrime at a global level, critics say its vague and sweeping language could give authoritarian regimes greater powers to surveil citizens and suppress online dissent.

Sabhanaz Rashid Diya, founder of the Tech Global Institute, cautioned that the treaty could “rubber-stamp problematic practices” already used by governments to access private data and target journalists.

“There were multiple concerns raised throughout the negotiation process about how this treaty could compel companies to hand over data without sufficient oversight,” Diya told AFP.

---

Weak Safeguards and Privacy Fears

More than a dozen human rights organizations signed an open letter condemning what they called the treaty’s “weak human rights safeguards” and its potential to be abused under the guise of cybersecurity enforcement.

“Even democratic governments may interpret the treaty as a green light for expanded data access, potentially undermining privacy protections,” said one joint statement.

The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which has been in place since 2001, already provides an international framework with stronger human rights protections. Critics argue the new UN treaty fails to meet those same standards.

Deborah Brown of Human Rights Watch warned that the treaty could empower repressive regimes:

“Vietnam, the host country, routinely censors online speech and jails bloggers. Signing a cybercrime treaty there sends the wrong signal,” Brown said.

She added that Russia’s influence over the drafting process “will certainly please Moscow,” though it remains one of the world’s top sources of cybercrime activity.

---

Tech Industry Pushback

Leading technology firms have voiced strong opposition to the treaty. The Cybersecurity Tech Accord, a coalition representing over 160 global companies including Meta, Dell, and Infosys, refused to attend the signing in Hanoi.

According to the group’s executive director, Nick Ashton-Hart, the convention’s broad powers could inadvertently criminalize cybersecurity research and jeopardize global IT systems.

“The treaty allows states to cooperate on almost any criminal act they choose, which opens the door to serious abuse,” Ashton-Hart said.

Tech firms fear that compliance with such a treaty could compel them to share user data across borders, potentially violating data protection laws and undermining customer trust.

---

Global Cybercrime Epidemic

The treaty comes amid a surge in cybercrime activity worldwide, particularly in Southeast Asia, where transnational scam networks have flourished. Thousands of victims across continents have been defrauded of billions of dollars annually, according to international law enforcement reports.

Experts acknowledge that stronger global coordination is needed to combat digital threats but insist it must not come at the expense of freedom of expression and data privacy.

“Cybercrime is a real and growing issue everywhere,” Diya said. “But solutions must balance security with fundamental human rights.”

---

A Divisive Step Toward Global Cyber Governance

The UN Cybercrime Treaty 2025 represents both a breakthrough and a controversy — a long-awaited step toward global cybersecurity cooperation that risks expanding government surveillance powers.

While some countries view the agreement as a “compromise document” with minimal human rights provisions, others fear it legitimizes cross-border censorship and unregulated data sharing.

As the treaty awaits ratification, the debate over how to balance cybersecurity with civil liberties is set to intensify — defining how the world responds to the next generation of digital threats.

“This treaty may be global,” Brown concluded, “but its consequences will be felt most by those who depend on a free and open internet.”