The United Nations member states are convening this Monday to work towards finalizing an international treaty aimed at combating cybercrime. This proposed treaty has faced strong opposition from an unexpected coalition of human rights organizations and major technology companies.

The idea for the “United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime” was first put forward in 2017 by Russian diplomats who presented the initiative in a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Despite resistance from the United States and Europe, two years later, the General Assembly established an intergovernmental committee with the task of drafting the treaty. Now, following a two-week session, the draft text is set for a vote by member states.

Despite numerous negotiation sessions, criticism of the draft has continued to mount. While there have been some improvements in the revised version, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed concerns about significant deficiencies, noting that many provisions do not meet international human rights standards.

The proposed treaty aims to enhance the prevention and combatting of cybercrime and to bolster global cooperation, particularly in areas such as combating child pornography and money laundering. However, opponents argue that the text’s scope is overly broad, as indicated by its subtitle: “crimes committed through the use of an information and communications technology system.”

Critics fear that the treaty could lead governments to investigate activities such as same-sex relationships, criticizing the government, investigative journalism, participation in protests, or whistleblowing. Human Rights Watch’s Executive Director, Tirana Hassan, stated that rather than focusing solely on cybercrime, the text resembles a global surveillance treaty that seeks to address all forms of crime, going beyond even the broadest interpretation of its mandate.

The ongoing debate surrounding the draft has brought together unexpected allies, with human rights groups forming alliances with prominent tech giants.