The convention is designed to assist cross-border investigations
of cybercrimes. However, the ACLU, on behalf of numerous
international civil liberty groups, complained this week that it
risks the privacy of internet users and the freedom of computer
programmers.
In its letter to Walter Schwimmer of the Counsel, the ACLU
writes:
“Specifically, we object to provisions that
will require Internet Service Providers to retain records regarding
the activities of their customers… These provisions pose a
significant risk to the privacy and human rights of internet users
and are at odds with well established principles of data protection
such as the Data Protection Directive of the European Union.”
The letter goes on to outline concerns, among others, that the
treaty will “discourage the development of new security tools and
give government an improper role in policing scientific innovation”
and over the proposed "introduction of new criminal penalties
relating to copyright infringement".
