The Biden administration is set to support a new U.N. treaty this week that will establish a cybercrime convention involving China and Russia, a move that has sparked mixed reactions among lawmakers and critics. This new convention will expand global governance on cybercrime beyond the existing Budapest Convention, which currently includes 76 countries but excludes Russia and China.
Concerns have been raised about the inclusion of these two adversarial nations in global cybercrime governance. Some Democratic lawmakers have expressed worries about potential threats to human rights and internet freedom, cautioning against granting international legitimacy to regimes that oppose democratic freedoms.
The decision to back the new treaty followed extensive consultations between the Biden administration and various stakeholders, including hundreds of nongovernmental organizations focused on human rights issues. The U.S. administration opted to align with the consensus, believing that its influence on global cybersecurity policy will be enhanced under the new convention.
To address concerns raised about the convention, the Biden administration plans to develop a risk management plan and engage with nongovernmental stakeholders for further refinement. The resolution was approved through a consensus proceeding on Monday without a formal vote and is expected to be adopted by the General Assembly later this year.
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump announced the nomination of New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik as the next U.N. ambassador in his administration. The White House declined to provide official comments on this matter.
