Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention

The Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime, signed in 2001 and effective in 2004, is the first international treaty addressing cybercrime. It was drafted by the Council of Europe, along with representatives from the United States, Canada, and Japan.1

Cybercrime involves illegal activities conducted using digital computers and the internet. While many cybercrimes extend existing criminal behaviors like fraud or identity theft, they also include novel illegal activities. A key characteristic of cybercrime is its nonlocal nature, meaning actions can occur across vast distances, posing significant challenges for law enforcement and necessitating international cooperation. The convention aims to harmonize national laws, improve investigative techniques, and establish frameworks for international cooperation in combating cybercrime.1