On Thursday, the United Nations adopted its first-ever treaty aimed at combating cybercrime. The treaty received unanimous approval from member states after three years of negotiations and a final two-week session in New York.
It is now slated for formal adoption by the General Assembly.
The agreement, known as the UN Cybercrime Convention, was developed following an initial proposal by Russia in 2017.
Despite the support, the treaty faced strong opposition from human rights advocates and major tech companies, who raised concerns about potential surveillance and censorship issues.
The new treaty will come into effect once ratified by 40 member states. Its objectives include improving the effectiveness of cybercrime prevention and enforcement, especially in cases related to child sexual abuse imagery and money laundering.
Critics worry that its broad provisions could lead to increased global surveillance and be used to suppress dissent.
Under the treaty, member states will have the authority to request electronic evidence and data from internet service providers in other countries when investigating crimes punishable by at least four years of imprisonment under national laws.
