EFF, International Allies Warn That Proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty, Rather Than Making Us More Secure, Could Legitimize Intrusive Surveillance and Drag Down Global Privacy and Free Expression Standards

EFF and international allies Access Now, Article 19, Epicenter, and Global Partners Digital are in Vienna this week and next for the fifth round of negotiations on the proposed UN Cybercrime Treaty, along with the over 100 representatives of Member States hashing out a new draft text.

While we have not yet been allowed to speak on the floor—or even sit in the same room as delegates—that has not stopped us from speaking out for users about the lack of human rights protections, the criminalization of online speech, the fostering of greater surveillance powers, and other dangers posed by the treaty in its current form.

At a livestreamed briefing yesterday in Vienna, we provided a reality check on how the talks have moved in troubling directions and challenged negotiators to seize this rare opportunity—negotiating a UN Treaty only happens every other decade—to draft a cybercrime treaty that does not undermine, but actually protects,  privacy and free expression.

You can view the media briefing here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POwrbFrJADU

Briefing highlights:

Katitza Rodriguez, Policy Director for Global Privacy, EFF

One big issue we’re facing is that there isn’t an effective global system in place to make sure human rights are enforced. Not many governments want to limit their own power to spy and track people closely. Because of this, the Convention might end up legitimizing intrusive surveillance power that invades people’s private lives and infringe upon their rights.  

Barbora Bukovská, Senior Director for Law and Policy, ARTICLE 19

We are really concerned that many provisions of this treaty restrict freedom of expression. States must not lose sight of the fact that content offenses, if coupled with surveillance powers and other restrictions, will create international carte blanche for those who want to use use this tool to restrict freedom of expression globally.

Raman Jit Singh Chi

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