The international effort to strengthen cooperation against cybercrime has gained momentum, with India and Indonesia signing the UN Convention against Cybercrime. The convention now has more than 90 signatories.
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister signed the treaty on 24 September at the UN headquarters in New York while leading the country’s delegation to the 81st UN General Assembly. India’s External Affairs Minister signed it on 25 September.
Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry said the country will now begin preparations for ratification and take steps to implement the convention through national law. Indonesia joins ASEAN members including Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam that have also signed the treaty.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly on 24 December 2024, the convention is the first comprehensive global treaty focused on cybercrime. Unlike the Budapest Convention, it creates a framework for international cooperation on transnational cybercrime, including the exchange of electronic evidence linked to serious offences.
The treaty contains 9 chapters and includes human rights safeguards. It is also the first global treaty to specifically address sexual violence against children involving information and communication technologies. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called it a milestone in tackling digital crime.
However, more than 20 civil society and human rights organisations have criticised the safeguards. They have raised concerns about the treaty’s broad scope, cross-border data access, surveillance powers and potential misuse against journalists, whistleblowers and peaceful protesters. Concerns have also been raised over data retention and the criminalisation of IT security researchers.
More than 90 states have signed the convention, while Qatar, Azerbaijan and Vietnam are currently parties to it. The treaty requires 40 ratifications to enter into force and will remain open for signature until 31 December 2026.
India participated in the negotiations and pushed for stronger cross-border data access mechanisms and a 24/7 cooperation network. At the BRICS Summit in New Delhi on 12–13 September, leaders encouraged countries to sign and ratify the convention.
Signing does not make the treaty binding. India and Indonesia must complete their domestic procedures and ratify or accede to the convention before becoming parties. For now, the next step is ratification.
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