Sixty-five nations have signed what is being described as a landmark United Nations treaty in Hanoi aimed at tackling cybercrime.
Adopted by the UN’s General Assembly in December 2024 after five years of negotiation, the Convention against Cybercrime establishes the first universal framework for investigating and prosecuting offences committed online – from ransomware and financial fraud to the non-consensual sharing of intimate images.
The signing ceremony was hosted by Vietnam in collaboration with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drawing senior officials, diplomats and experts from across regions.
The new treaty criminalises a range of cyber-dependent and cyber-enabled offences, facilitates the sharing of electronic evidence across borders and establishes a 24/7 cooperation network among states.
As the UN points out, it also makes history as the first international treaty to recognise the non-consensual dissemination of intimate images as an offence – described as a significant victory for victims of online abuse.
It will enter into force 90 days after the 40th state deposits its ratification.
By providing a global standard for electronic evidence, the treaty aims to improve cooperation between law enforcement agencies while safeguarding privacy, dignity and fundamental human rights.
After the signing, UN Secretary-General António Guterres argued that it was now time to turn signatures into action, saying: “The Convention must be ratified quickly, implemented fully, and supported with funding, training and technology – especially for developing countries.”
The new convention is expected to reshape how countries tackle cybercrime at a time when digital threats are rising sharply. However, given the figures involved, it’s unlikely to be an easy task. Global cybercrime costs are projected to reach US$10.5 trillion annually by 2025, according to industry experts.
Among the signatories were many developing countries, for which, according to the UN, the treaty represents an opportunity to access training, technical assistance and real-time cooperation channels.
