Around 60 countries are set to sign a landmark treaty in Hanoi this weekend under the United Nations banner aimed at strengthening international cooperation against cybercrime that costs the global economy trillions of dollars annually. The agreement will come into effect once 40 countries ratify it.
The treaty targets a wide range of offences including phishing, ransomware, online human-trafficking and hate speech. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described it as “a powerful, legally binding instrument to strengthen our collective defences against cybercrime.”
While the pact has been hailed as an unprecedented global response to digital threats, it also faces sharp criticism. Tech companies and rights advocates argue its broad wording could lead to government overreach, including criminalising ethical hacking and eroding online freedoms.
Vietnam, the treaty’s host, is also under scrutiny for its human-rights record and online censorship practices, adding complexity to the ceremony’s symbolism.