The Ad Hoc Committee to Elaborate a Comprehensive International Convention on Countering the Use of Information and Communications Technologies for Criminal Purposes, established by the General Assembly in its resolution 74/247, will convene from July 29 to August 9, 2024, to finalize discussions and adopt a final text. Three recent documents of recommendations for this committee highlight the need to balance cybersecurity with human rights protection.

Knowmad Institut: A Multidisciplinary Approach

The Knowmad Institut emphasizes the protection of human rights and dignity in combating cybercrime. Their key recommendations include:

• Protection of Vulnerable Groups: Proposing a specific clause to protect individuals exposed to conflicts and persecution.
• Open Science and Gender Perspective: Advocating for the inclusion of a gender perspective and open science as preventive tools.
• Regulation of Espionage Services: Highlighting the need to regulate subcontracted espionage services to protect individuals’ physical integrity.

Read the full recommendations of the Knowmad Institut

OHCHR: Human Rights at the Core of Legislation

The OHCHR underscores the necessity for all measures against cybercrime to respect human rights. Their main points include:

• Protection of Privacy and Freedom of Expression: Emphasizing the importance of these rights in policy-making against cybercrime.
• Legal Recommendations: Offering suggestions to align national and international laws with human rights standards.
• International Cooperation: Advocating for global collaboration to effectively address cybercrime.

Read the full recommendations of the OHCHR

Microsoft: Technology and Collaboration

Microsoft provides a technical and practical perspective, focusing on:

• Cybersecurity and Public-Private Collaboration: Proposing the use of advanced technologies and collaboration between public and private sectors.
• Protection of Human Rights: Emphasizing the importance of ensuring that measures against cybercrime respect human rights and privacy.
• International Policies: Offering recommendations for effective and coordinated international policies.

Read the full recommendations of Microsoft

Common Recommendations and Perspectives

Despite their different approaches, these documents share several key concerns and recommendations:

• Protection of Human Rights and Privacy: A central theme is the need for all measures against cybercrime to respect human rights and individual privacy.
• International Cooperation: All documents highlight the importance of global cooperation to effectively combat cybercrime.
• Adaptation of Legislation: There is a consensus on the need to adapt national and international laws to more effectively and respectfully address cybercrime.

Conclusion

These documents reflect a shared concern for protecting human rights in the context of cybercrime, demonstrating that it is possible and necessary to balance security with privacy and dignity. The recommendations from the Knowmad Institut, OHCHR, and Microsoft provide a solid foundation for developing policies and laws that are not only effective against cybercrime but also respect and protect the fundamental rights of all.

For more information on improving cybersecurity while safeguarding human rights, visit: Improving Cybersecurity While Safeguarding Human Rights.