View all newsletters
Receive our newsletter - data, insights and analysis delivered to you
  1. Policy
April 4, 2018

“Not Transparent”: NGOs Hit Out at Cybercrime Convention Talks

Signatories want all discussion documents to be public

By CBR Staff Writer

A consortium of nearly 100 civil society groups has raised concerns over “multiple challenges for transparency and accountability”, as the Council of Europe prepares to update its “Budapest Convention” on cybercrime.

The Convention is the only binding international instrument on cybercrime.

It serves as a guideline for countries that are developing national legislation, as well as a framework for international cooperation between state actors on the issue. It has been ratified by 57 countries, including the US, Israel, Japan, Germany and the UK.

The pending “Second Additional Protocol” is currently under discussion at the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) of the Council of Europe.

The Council hopes to finalise it late next year.

But in a letter to the Council, the 94 signatories – which include NGOs in the US, Philippines, South America and Europe – urged a sharp increase in transparency.

“The current negotiation raises multiple challenges for transparency, participation, inclusion and accountability. This is firstly due to the far broader geographic range of the countries likely to be impacted by the final agreement and, secondly, by the current arrangements for access to documents and consultation,” the signatories said.

Content from our partners
How businesses can safeguard themselves on the cyber frontline
How hackers’ tactics are evolving in an increasingly complex landscape
Green for go: Transforming trade in the UK

The updated convention includes guidance on cross-border access to data by law enforcement authorities.

According to the terms of reference for the negotiations, this may include: “Direct cooperation with service providers in other jurisdictions with regard to requests for subscriber information, preservation requests, and emergency requests”.

The letter, coordinated by European Digital Rights (EDRi), comes amid concern among signatories over the US CLOUD act, which streamlines law enforcement access to data held on servers overseas.

Critics have said the legislation raises significant privacy concerns.

The signatories have urged the default publication of all discussion documents: “This should be insisted upon by the Council of Europe, to uphold its exemplary tradition of transparency and inclusion. Exceptions should be individually justified and internally reviewed.”

The Council says that it has been clear about its intention for “close interaction with civil society” via its regular Octopus Conferences.

Cybercrime legislation must be transparent to societies says public interest organisations

 

Websites in our network
Select and enter your corporate email address Tech Monitor's research, insight and analysis examines the frontiers of digital transformation to help tech leaders navigate the future. Our Changelog newsletter delivers our best work to your inbox every week.
  • CIO
  • CTO
  • CISO
  • CSO
  • CFO
  • CDO
  • CEO
  • Architect Founder
  • MD
  • Director
  • Manager
  • Other
Visit our privacy policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.
THANK YOU