Freedom Online Coalition issues joint statement on adoption of the UN Convention Against Cybercrime

The Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) has issued a joint statement following the adoption of the United Nations Convention Against Cybercrime by the UN General Assembly on 24 December 2024. The statement reflects the collective position of FOC member states, developed under the leadership of the 2024 FOC Chair, the Netherlands, in consultation with the coalition’s multistakeholder Advisory Network. It recognises the treaty as a significant new global framework for cooperation on cybercrime, while underscoring the need for its implementation to remain firmly aligned with international human rights law.

The coalition highlights the active role its Members played throughout the negotiation process. According to the statement, the Convention has the potential to strengthen the international community’s ability to address both widespread and emerging forms of cybercrime, provided that the procedural powers it introduces are applied with robust safeguards. These include judicial or independent review, effective remedies and the broader conditions set out in Article 24 of the Convention. FOC Members stress that these guarantees form part of the treaty’s core purpose and must be upheld in practice.

At the same time, the statement acknowledges concerns raised by civil society and the FOC Advisory Network regarding the intrusive nature of some procedural measures and the breadth of international cooperation tools, particularly those involving cross-border access to electronic evidence. The coalition notes that such powers, if implemented without adequate oversight, could risk misuse and undermine trust. It reiterates that compliance with international human rights obligations is not optional: the Convention explicitly prohibits any interpretation that would allow restrictions on freedoms of expression, opinion or other fundamental rights, including in cases involving journalists, political dissidents or marginalised populations.

The coalition also emphasises the importance of a multistakeholder approach to cybercrime governance. The statement notes that tackling cybercrime requires input from governments, civil society, the private sector, the technical community, academia, media and international organisations. FOC Members commit to supporting the continued involvement of these groups in the Conference of States Parties and in the treaty’s implementation phase, arguing that broad participation is essential for accountability, transparency and effective international cooperation.

The joint statement concludes by reaffirming that FOC member states will monitor how the Convention is applied and will oppose any misuse aimed at targeting private sector employees, security researchers, journalists or others acting in good faith. The coalition states that the long-term success of the treaty will depend on whether states implement it in good faith while upholding the human rights protections embedded in its text.