Cybercrime

14 law enforcement, Internet industry and civil society actors from the Eastern Partnership countries, supported by CyberEast+, a joint European Union-Council of Europe project, attended  the 2024 edition of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG) titled Balancing innovation and regulation and engaged in discussions and exchanged views on topics related to Internet Governance.

On 18 June, within the framework  of this event, the CyberEast+ project co-organised a session under the main topic of European policies and strategies titled One for all, all for one: the role of cooperation in enhancing cyber resilience in Europe.  Key participants included the President of the Office of the Electronic Communication of Poland, the Head of Cyber and Information Security Directorate of Ukraine, a representative of the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC), a representative of the General Counsel at Nord Security and the Head of Unit for the Council of Europe Digital Development, Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law.

The Head of Cyber and Information Security Directorate highlighted the importance of co-operation to protect human rights in cyberspace, in the context of increasing cyberattacks, including against critical infrastructure, caused by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. Furthermore, she stated that the Ukrainian authorities are ready to share best practices gathered from the ongoing cyberwar with the Russian Federation.

The representative of the Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC) emphasised the role of co-operation and enhanced threat intelligence sharing in the EU and globally, as a means to effectively combat criminal offences and strengthen cybersecurity. He also underlined, in unison with the Head of Unit for the Council of Europe Digital Development Department, the role of the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) and of the Second Additional Protocol on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence, as fundamental legal instruments that facilitate the investigation and prosecution of cybercrime. It was noted that the Convention on Cybercrime provides a framework for mutual legal assistance between countries, including joint investigations and information sharing.

In her keynote address on the final day of the event, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe called attention to the cutting-edge role of the Council of Europe in regard to public policy on Internet Governance.

 “Our organisation has always understood the importance of balancing innovation and regulation when it comes to new technologies. But, in fact, it would be wrong to see these things as weighing against one another. Rather, they should move in tandem, ensuring that technology develops in a way that truly benefits our societies. This has been our approach with previous tech-related legal treaties. Our Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, which remains the international gold standard in its field, harmonises national laws, improves investigations and increases cross-border co-operation to tackle internet and computer-based crime (…)”, noted the Secretary General.

The Council of Europe delegation from the Freedom of Expression and CDMSI Division, the Democratic Institutions and Freedoms Department, the Data Protection Unit and the Digital Development Unit co-organised several sessions that analysed the impact of the metaverse on human rights, best practices for handling disinformation, frameworks for fostering online safety and data protection regulations. The Chair of the Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CAI) presented the scope and context of the Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, the first binding international treaty on AI opened for signature and ratification.

CyberEast+ project webpage

The Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention)

Second Additional Protocol on enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence

2024 Edition of EuroDIG- Balancing innovation and regulation

Cooperation of the Council of Europe with the European Dialogue on Internet Governance (EuroDIG)

Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law