UN experts’ meeting considers need for global convention against cyber-crime

The possibility of creating a new global treaty against cyber-crime will be on the agenda when criminologists from around the world gather today in Seoul for the start of a two-day United Nations meeting on combating computer-related offences.

With the Council of Europe’s own Convention against cyber-crime entering into force earlier this month, the meeting’s delegates will consider whether there should be a new worldwide instrument which aims to prevent and combat all crimes involving information technology.

This week’s meeting is being held to prepare the content for one of six workshops taking place at the Eleventh UN Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Bangkok next April. As well as discussing the European pact, the meeting will also consider the recommendations of four earlier regional preparatory meetings for the Congress.

The workshop during next year’s summit is likely to focus on how countries can curb cyber-crime domestically while cooperating more on investigation and enforcement, given the transnational nature of much computer-related crime.