Cybercrime Treaty Gains More Interest & Momentum

April 2008

The number of countries that will have ratified the only international treaty addressing cybercrime is expected to nearly double this year, a sign that momentum is building behind efforts to police the Internet. The Council of Europe’s Convention on Cybercrime, which sets guidelines for laws and procedures for dealing with Internet crime, was adopted in 2001. Countries can sign the treaty, which indicates their willingness to comply, and then can ratify it after their laws have been modified. So far, 22 countries have ratified the treaty, a lower number than expected since the treaty was introduced seven years ago, said the head of the economic crime division for the Council of Europe, on Tuesday. However, the Council hopes around 40 countries will ratify it by February 2009. The slow pace comes from the legal and legislative complexities that come with modifying laws in order to comply with the treaty, he said. The Council often works with countries to ensure their compliance. Countries outside the 47-member Council, which represents European countries, may apply for accession, the first step in implementing the treaty. The U.S., for example, has ratified the treaty, and more countries outside Europe are indicating their interest in joining, he said. The Convention is aimed at providing for swifter prosecutions of cybercrime as well as better cooperation between law enforcement agencies, as investigations often cross borders. For example, it requires countries to have a law enforcement contact available at all hours to assist in a digital investigation.