The Biden administration plans to support the highly controversial proposed cybercrime treaty at the United Nations this week, “ despite fears that it could be misused by authoritarian regimes », Reveals Bloomberg.
This agreement would be the first legally binding agreement » of the United Nations on cybersecurity, and could even “ become a global legal framework » allowing countries to cooperate in the prevention and investigation of cybercriminals.
Accused by more than 80 NGOs of seriously undermining freedom of expression, privacy and the legitimate activities of journalists, whistleblowers and activists, the treaty, promoted by Russia, China, Syria and the North Korea and around fifteen other authoritarian regimes, was adopted by the UN last August.
Critics fear it could be used by authoritarian states to pursue dissidents abroad or force democracies to collect data on political opponents for their profit.
Bloomberg's diplomatic sources estimate that there were ” compelling reasons to support the treaty “. It would allow “ For example » improve the criminalization of online child abuse and the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images.
If all members sign the agreement, it will update extradition treaties and provide more opportunities to apprehend cybercriminals and extradite them, an official said.
It said the United States plans to strictly enforce human rights, that the Justice Department would carefully review extradition requests and refuse to provide any assistance that is not consistent with the agreement.
Last month, six Democratic senators wrote that the treaty could “ legitimize the efforts of authoritarian countries like Russia and China to censor and monitor Internet users, thereby increasing repression and human rights violations around the world ».
If the treaty should pass the vote at the UN, it is “ highly unlikely to be ratified by the US government unless human rights controls are implemented “, said the official.
