Cybercrime treaty being negotiated at the UN

CyberScoop reports that the United Nations is looking to convene negotiations to establish a global cybercrime treaty by May 30, raising concerns among human rights activists. Russia, which has been the leading proponent of a worldwide cybercrime treaty, has already issued a draft proposal enabling the criminalization of "unlawful acts motivated by political, ideological, social, racial, ethnic, or religious hatred or enmity, advocacy and justification of such actions or the provision of access to them." The Russian proposal has gained co-sponsorship from China and other nation-states, making human rights activists worry about the potential crackdown on free speech under the possible UN treaty. However, the U.S., which sent its own proposal earlier this month, noted that human rights would not be hampered by the treaty. "Nothing in this Convention shall be interpreted as affecting other rights and obligations of states and individuals under international law, including the Charter of the United Nations and international human rights law," said U.S. officials.