UN committee approves first cybercrime treaty

A UN committee approved the first worldwide treaty on cybercrime on Aug 8 despite opposition from human rights groups and a coalition of tech companies. The treaty was adopted by consensus after three years of negotiations but still needs to face a vote from the General Assembly in the fall. It needs to be ratified by 40 nations there.

The convention establishes “a global criminal justice policy,” to protect society against cybercrime by “fostering international cooperation,” according to the treaty draft.