Costa Rica ratifies Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime

Costa Rica has ratified the Second Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, an international treaty adopted by the Council of Europe. With this step, Costa Rica becomes the fourth country to ratify the protocol, bringing it closer to entering into force.

The protocol focuses on improving how countries cooperate when investigating crimes involving digital evidence, such as online fraud, hacking, and other cyber-related offences. These investigations often require access to data held by companies in other countries, which can be slow and complex under existing procedures.

To address this, the protocol introduces mechanisms for faster and more direct cooperation. For example, authorities may be able to request certain types of data, such as subscriber information, directly from service providers based in another jurisdiction. It also provides tools for urgent situations, such as expedited data sharing in emergencies.

Additional provisions include the possibility of joint investigations between countries and the use of video conferencing for cross-border legal procedures.

At the same time, the framework includes safeguards to protect human rights, including requirements on privacy, due process, and oversight.

The protocol, opened for signature in 2022, will enter into force once a minimum number of countries ratify it. The Council of Europe Cybercrime Programme Office continues to support countries in adopting and implementing the agreement through training and capacity-building initiatives.