In December 2024, after five years of negotiations, the General Assembly adopted the Convention against Cybercrime, creating the first universal framework for investigating and prosecuting online crimes like ransomware and financial fraud, as well as the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
“The United Nations Convention on Cybercrime is a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our defenses against cybercrime,” stated Mr. Guterres at the signing ceremony on Saturday.
“This shows multilateralism’s ability to provide solutions and ensures no country is left defenseless against cybercrime.”
Hosted by Viet Nam with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the signing ceremony united officials, diplomats, and experts globally.
A global cooperation framework
The treaty criminalizes various cyber-enabled offenses, facilitates cross-border electronic evidence sharing, and establishes a 24/7 cooperation network.
It marks a historic first as an international treaty acknowledging the non-consensual distribution of intimate images as a crime, benefiting online abuse victims.
It becomes effective 90 days post-ratification by the 40th State.
Collective defense in the digital age
Mr. Guterres highlighted technology’s dual nature, offering progress but creating vulnerabilities.
“Every day, sophisticated scams defraud families, steal livelihoods, and cost billions,” he said. “In cyberspace, no one is safe until everyone is safe. Vulnerabilities can expose anyone globally.”
The Convention is praised as “a victory for victims of online abuse” and offers a clear path for justice despite crimes crossing borders.
A global standard for electronic evidence, it aims to enhance law enforcement cooperation while safeguarding privacy and rights.
UN chief visits Vietnam
During his Vietnam visit, Mr. Guterres met with President Lương Cường and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, lauding Viet Nam’s digital supply chain role.
“It’s fitting the ceremony occurs here—in a tech-driven, innovative country integral to digital supply chains,” he noted, advocating for swift treaty ratification and implementation.
“Signatures must become actions,” he urged. “The Convention needs rapid ratification and full support through finance, training, and technology, especially for developing nations.”
A safer cyberspace for all
The convention aims to reshape cybercrime combat as digital threats rise, with costs predicted to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.
For many, especially in the Global South, it offers training, technical assistance, and cooperation channels.
“Let us seize this moment,” urged Mr. Guterres. “Let’s build a cyberspace honoring dignity and rights, ensuring the digital age fosters peace, security, and prosperity for all.”
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