The United Nations General Assembly approved a draft resolution moved by Russia on Friday that will start the process of drafting a new international treaty to combat transnational cybercrimes, despite objections raised by the US, EU and certain other nations.
The draft resolution that sought to convene a meeting of experts from different parts of the world in August 2020 to elaborate on an international convention against the use of information and communications technologies for criminal purposes, was approved by 79 nations, 60 nations opposed it and 33 abstentions.
There is already an UN inter-governmental expert group deliberating on the matter and many nations felt that this will undermine this expert group which is also supported by Russia.
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In this regard, the US deputy ambassador Cherith Norman Chalet told the assembly before the vote that “this resolution will undermine international cooperation to combat cyber crime at a time when enhanced coordination is needed. “
Describing the lack of consensus, she added: “There is no consensus among member states on the need to value of drafting a new treaty” she said. “It will only serve to stifle global efforts to combat crimes”.
Responding to this, the Russian representative said that the new body will consider the work of the expert group and factor it while drafting a new resolution.
The diplomat also added that substantive work on this resolution will start sometime in 2021.
An expert added that one cannot comment on the effects of this law, till a time a draft law is drafted.