Over 60 Sign UN Cybercrime Treaty in Hanoi

The UN Convention against Cybercrime — opened for signature in Hanoi and called the “Hanoi Convention” — was signed by more than 60 countries and will enter into force once those signatories ratify it. First proposed by Russian diplomats in 2017 and adopted by UN member states by consensus in December 2024, the treaty comprises nine chapters and 71 articles to create a framework for international cooperation against cybercrimes from child sexual exploitation to transnational scams and money‑laundering. Vietnam hosted and chaired the signing ceremony, which was attended by UN Secretary‑General António Guterres and high‑level representatives from around 110 countries and organisations. Supporters argue the pact is urgently needed to curb sophisticated scams that drain billions, while rights groups and some tech firms warn its broad language could expand state surveillance, compel companies to share data and be misused to repress critics. Organisers plan more than 15 high‑level meetings and related activities to support implementation, but questions remain about safeguards, transparency and which states will ultimately ratify and operationalise the convention.