Treaty offers legal basis for international cooperation in fight against cybercrime
The federal government has shared that it has signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime; Strengthening International Cooperation for Combating Certain Crimes Committed by Means of Information and Communications Technology Systems and for the Sharing of Evidence in Electronic Form of Serious Crimes.
The announcement came from Anita Anand, federal foreign affairs minister; Gary Anandasangaree, federal public safety minister; and Sean Fraser, federal justice minister, attorney general, and minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
“Canada's signing of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime reflects our commitment to international cooperation to prevent serious crimes,” Anand said in a news release from Global Affairs Canada.
Anandasangaree emphasized the importance of international cooperation to keep Canadians safe and hold cybercriminals accountable.
“Together, we will stand up to cybercrime while reinforcing trust in digital technologies and the global fight against transnational crime,” Anand said.
According to Global Affairs Canada, transnational crime jeopardizes Canadians individuals’ and businesses’ economic prosperity and safety.
“Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated technologies to commit serious crimes across borders and increase the scale and scope of their criminal activity,” Fraser said.
Treaty’s goals
Global Affairs Canada’s news release noted that the convention, which embeds child protection provisions and human rights safeguards, seeks to:
- Offer a legal basis for international cooperation when combating cybercrime
- Help countries protect against cybercriminals and support victims
- Help law enforcement collaborate with international partners, swiftly investigate crimes, and avoid future harm
“This convention will support the efforts of law enforcement and strengthen our collective ability to prevent and combat cybercrime, while respecting privacy and the rule of law,” Anandasangaree said.
More about convention
According to Global Affairs Canada’s news release, Canada participated in the negotiations for the convention.
On Dec. 24, 2024, the UN General Assembly adopted the convention, which opened for signatures in Hanoi, Vietnam, on Oct. 25, 2025.
As of July 16, the convention’s nearly 80 signatories are Algeria, Angola, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Czechia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, the European Union, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Palau, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Türkiye, Uganda, the United Kingdom, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
As of that date, three states have ratified the convention, which takes effect once 40 states have ratified it.
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