In Hanoi, 65 countries have signed a new UN agreement aimed at combating cybercrime, which includes provisions for data exchange and extradition of suspects. The document will come into effect after ratification by 40 states. This information is reported by Nikkei Asia.

The convention obliges states to criminalize ten types of crimes, ranging from hacking to data forgery, and to provide evidence, including electronic correspondence, upon request from other countries. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that supporting this initiative should create a "global collective response" to digital threats.

However, human rights organizations and tech companies warn that the treaty might become a tool for mass surveillance. Representatives from the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, which unites IT firms, expressed concerns that the document is too abstract and could allow states to demand access to encrypted systems or compel providers to hand over user data without their knowledge.

Human Rights Watch, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and 17 other organizations have also voiced their concerns. They emphasize that the convention allows for the exchange of personal data between countries outside specific investigations and without adequate safeguards for human rights.

The UN Human Rights Office has called for clarifications regarding searches and the seizure of digital evidence to avoid persecution based on political opinions or freedom of speech.

Vietnamese President Luong Quang referred to the fight against cybercrime as a "new war" during the signing ceremony, which inflicts trillion-dollar losses on the global economy. The convention also includes a section on assisting developing countries in enhancing cybersecurity.

Nonetheless, human rights advocates criticize Vietnam's selection as the host country, reminding that activists and bloggers are often persecuted. In a joint statement, they noted that even peaceful forms of protest or expression online could fall under the convention's purview.