Cybercrime Treaty Ratified

Yesterday, the US Senate ratified the Convention on Cybercrime treaty, reports the Associated Press. Initially launched in 2001 and signed by over forty nations, the treaty is meant to encourage international cooperation in fighting malware writers, sexual exploitation rings, and terrorism by making it easier for countries to collaborate on and unify their Internet-related laws. The Convention is not without its legitimate concerns, however. Organizations such as the EFF have described it as "the world's worst Internet law" because it could theoretically let nations with more oppressive laws pressure the US into identifying and extraditing people solely because they are vocal political opponents. Even so, the treaty also contains exceptions that allow countries to refuse cooperation on political offenses or in situations that would compromise sovereignty and core interests.

By Electronista Staff