The United States will support an international treaty on cybercrime that a broad coalition of businesses and human rights groups say would weaken global cybersecurity and make it easier for authoritarian regimes to spy on and prosecute their citizens, according to media reports. informed on the decision.

A United Nations committee finalized the language of the treaty proposed in August after a controversial process lasting several years. Broadly speaking, the new convention encourages signatories to collect more data on potential cybercrimes, share data on suspects with each other, and facilitate the extradition of criminals and the seizure of the proceeds of their crimes.

Human rights defenders, including Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rightswarned that the convention applies too broad a definition of cybercrime, allowing countries to request international assistance when investigating any technology-enabled crime. This could include crimes such as cyber libel or incitement to violence which in some countries have been used to prosecute journalists and protesters.

The treaty contains a provision stating that nothing in it should be interpreted as authorizing the suppression of human rights, but critics say the language is vague and will do little to prevent authoritarian governments from using new powers to repress political opponents and minority groups. , and people in same-sex relationships.

“By expanding government oversight to investigate crimes, the treaty could create an unprecedented tool for cross-border cooperation in relation to a wide range of offenses, without adequate safeguards to protect people from abuse of power. » wrote Tirana Hassan, executive director of Human Rights Watch.

Countries that sign the convention agree to cooperate and share data regarding cybercrime. They are also required to establish laws that require digital service providers to maintain real-time web traffic data, subscriber information and message content and to share this information with law enforcement agencies in response to legal requests. The convention requires signatories to adopt laws that require service providers to keep government requests for highly sensitive information confidential.

These provisions have drawn sharp criticism not only from privacy and human rights advocates, but also from international trade organizations and technology companies.

“The fact that industry and civil society are aligned with our concerns to an unprecedented degree should continue to give member states pause,” Nemanja Malisevic, Microsoft’s director of digital diplomacy, said at a conference in press. hearing before the final treaty language is approved. “At heart, this treaty still remains a data access and global surveillance treaty under the guise of a cybercrime treaty, without adequate safeguards to prevent government abuse of power. And in its current form, this treaty will undermine data privacy, threaten digital sovereignty, and undermine online rights and freedoms globally.

Citing unnamed Biden administration officials, Politico reported that the United States will likely support the treaty in the vote at the UN this week. However, the United States is unlikely to ratify the treaty itself, as this requires approval by two-thirds of the Senate.