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UN treaty is unprecedented step in fight against

cybercrime

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Activists, companies say it poses risks to human rights

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Tech firms warn it may help criminalise ethical hackers

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UN says human rights are protected by the convention

By Francesco Guarascio

HANOI, Oct 22 (Reuters) - A landmark U.N. cybercrime

agreement aimed at curbing offences that cost the global economy

trillions of dollars annually is set to be signed by

representatives from dozens of states in Hanoi this weekend,

despite criticism over human rights risks.

The convention, which would come into force after it is

ratified by 40 states, is an unprecedented move that the United

Nations expects will make responses to cybercrime quicker and

more effective.

Activists, major technology companies and the U.N. High

Commissioner for Human Rights have warned about possible abuses

from its vague language on crime, with some saying it would

facilitate rather than combat illegal activities.

The list of signatories has not been released, though the

European Union and Canada are set to sign the pact, which they

said included safeguards to protect human rights. The U.S. State

Department declined to say whether a U.S. representative will

attend the signing ceremony.

VIETNAM'S APPROPRIATENESS AS HOST QUESTIONED

Vietnam's selection as host has drawn criticism due to its

human rights record. In a report in August, the U.S. State

Department cited "significant human rights issues" in Vietnam,

including restrictions on online freedom of expression.

At least 40 people have been arrested this year in Vietnam,

for alleged crimes including online postings against the state,

according to Human Rights Watch.

The one-party Communist nation expects to raise its

international profile by hosting the event and sees the pact as

a tool to boost its cyber defences, Vietnamese officials said.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is scheduled to

attend the signing ceremony on Saturday.

CRITICS DUB PACT 'SURVEILLANCE TREATY'

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord, a coalition that includes

Meta and Microsoft ( MSFT ), has labelled the pact "a

surveillance treaty" that facilitates the exchange of personal

data among governments and risks "making it easier, not harder,

for criminals to engage in cybercrime."

The convention targets a broad spectrum of offences from

phishing and ransomware to online trafficking and hate speech,

the U.N. has said, citing estimates that cybercrime costs the

global economy trillions of dollars each year.

But the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights warned

during treaty negotiations that "laws with overly broad

definitions of cybercrime are frequently used to impose undue

restrictions on the right to freedom of expression."

Raman Jit Singh Chima of Access Now, an advocacy group, said

the treaty could facilitate the extradition of individuals

persecuted by their governments. The signing in Vietnam "sends a

very bad signal" to human rights defenders, he added.

Vietnam is experiencing an escalation of cyberattacks

targeting critical infrastructure and big corporations, Le Xuan

Minh, head of cybersecurity at the public security ministry,

told a press conference this month, noting more international

cooperation could help identify perpetrators.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which led the

treaty talks, said the agreement includes provisions to protect

human rights and allows states to reject cooperation requests

that conflict with international law.

Activists and tech firms have also voiced concern that the

treaty could criminalise ethical hackers who test systems for

vulnerabilities, especially when their findings expose sensitive

government flaws.

The UNODC said the convention "encourages" states to enable

legitimate research activities.