Journalism Campaign Group Warns UN Cybercrime Treaty Could Expand Surveillance Powers

A global journalism campaign claims that an upcoming United Nations global cybercrime treaty will give authorities sweeping surveillance powers. On Aug. 6, the International Press Institute (IPI), a group of media professionals advocating for global press freedom, wrote that a new global convention backed by Russia, China, and others could usher in a new era of “transnational surveillance and repression.” Since May 2021, UN member states have been negotiating an international treaty on countering cybercrime. The UN body tasked with developing the treaty, the Ad Hoc Committee, will reach an agreement on the final text of the Convention on Aug. 9. If adopted and finalized this week, it would be the first binding UN instrument on a cyber issue....