Between 13-15 December 2023, Octopus Conference 2023 took place in Bucharest, Romania. The Octopus Conference, organised every 12 to 18 months by the Council of Europe, constitutes one of the biggest and finest platforms of exchange in cybercrime gathering experts from more than 100 countries, international organisations, private sector and academia. Each Octopus Conference has a specific focus linked to the latest cybercrime issue. This year, the focus was two-fold: securing and sharing electronic evidence (the tools are here – let’s use them!) and capacity building on cybercrime and electronic evidence (10 years of Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC) – what impact so far; what’s next?). Over 500 professionals from around 130 countries attended the conference workshops this year.

With 14 workshops, 2 plenaries, Lightning Talks and 4 project side-events, the Octopus Conference 2023 was a good platform also for cyberviolence matters to be discussed.

Workshop 12 – Online xenophobia and racism v. freedom of expression

This workshop was inspired in part by the fact that First Additional Protocol to the Convention on Cybercrime, which provides for substantive criminal law provisions targeting very harmful forms of hate speech and hate crime of online racism and xenophobia, celebrated its 20th anniversary. In this context, a Good Practice Study regarding its implementation was prepared.
During the workshop experts from different parts of the world, including Africa, Latin America and Europe, shared their experience and developments in their jurisdictions. The discussions in the workshop confirmed that:

• online xenophobia and racism is on the rise and various forms of hate speech and hate crime are spread on the Internet.
• online hate can lead to other violent attacks and vulnerable groups such as women, children, national and ethnic minorities may be frequently targeted.
• the First Protocol provides for criminal law measures to counter online xenophobia and racism, while taking into consideration established principles relating to the freedom of expression under domestic law of its Parties. 
• criminal law measures – including those under the First Protocol – are an important part of the response but should be used as the last resort. It was emphasised that other alternative means, such as to ensure expeditious removal of illegal content upon complaint should be used.

Additional information on xenophobia and racism should be made available at the Council of Europe’s online resource on cyberviolence. Stakeholders were encouraged to consider contributing to the resource.

Workshop 3 – Automatic detection of child sexual exploitation and abuse materials

During Workshop 3 the Lanzarote Committee of the Council of Europe and the Children’s Rights Division of the Council of Europe presented current distressing trends and challenges regarding the proliferation of online child sexual exploitation and abuse material (OCSEA). 

In this regard, the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) and the Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention) provide relevant standard-setting tools.

Moreover, collaborative solutions were put forward by experts from INTERPOL, ECPAT Sweden, and the Korean Media Regulator, in order to make the best use of technological advancements, national legal and policy frameworks, as well as effective removal procedures through helplines.

Workshop 4 – Synergies between Conventions for a safer cyberspace

Workshop 4 provided a strong focus on the interplay between the Budapest Convention and the Second Additional Protocol, on the one hand, and the Istanbul, Lanzarote and Warsaw Conventions, on the other hand.

Experts representing the Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY), the Lanzarote Committee, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), the Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (GRETA), and the Department of Justice of the United States of America (International Computer Hacking and Intellectual Property) shared insights on States’ practices regarding the criminalisation, prosecution and adjudication of offences regarding online violence against children, women and trafficking in human beings, which all entail electronic evidence and often require international co-operation.

For these purposes, the Cybercrime Convention and its Second Additional Protocol provide the necessary tools for investigation and co-operation.

Lightning Talks

Octopus Conference 2023 was the third edition of the Conference that included Lightning Talks in the program.

Regarding cyberviolence, this year’s session shone a light on gender mainstreaming in capacity building programmes, the gender gap in cybersecurity and the powers conferred to the Second Additional Protocol for the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of OCSEA offences.

Additionally, the Cyberviolence Resource was presented through a dedicated booth set up throughout the event.

 Cybercrime Division Newsroom: C-PROC: Over 500 professionals from around 130 countries attend the Octopus Conference 2023

 Council of Europe: Octopus Conference 2023

 Council of Europe: First Additional Protocol

 Council of Europe: Countering online xenophobia and racism: new study underlines increased relevance of the First Protocol to the Budapest Convention

 Council of Europe: Cyberviolence Resource