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Ref. DC177(2016)

Protecting you and your rights: the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime fifteen years on

Strasbourg, 10.11.2016 – Fifteen years after its adoption, the Budapest Convention remains the most effective international treaty on cybercrime and the rule of law in cyberspace. Achievements and challenges, such as access to electronic evidence and the use of information technology for terrorist purposes, will be discussed at the Council of Europe’s Octopus conference on cybercrime from 16 to 18 November in Strasbourg. The conference will begin with a special meeting to mark the 15^th anniversary of the Convention.

“Access to evidence on servers based in the cloud is essential to protect society and individuals against cybercrime. Without data, there is no evidence and therefore no justice. If agreement can be reached on how to secure evidence in the cloud based on rule of law safeguards, then the 15^th anniversary of the Budapest Convention may yet become another milestone in the history of this treaty,” said Council of Europe Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland, speaking ahead of the anniversary.

To date, 67 countries have signed, ratified or been invited to accede to the Convention. More than 120 countries are cooperating with the Council of Europe to reinforce their legislation and and criminal justice capacities to address cybercrime.

The Convention has had a global impact and resulted in stronger and more harmonised cybercrime legislation worldwide, more efficient international co-operation in investigating and prosecuting Internet-based crimes and closer public-private partnerships.

The Octopus Conference will gather some 300 cybercrime experts from all over the world, representing governments, law enforcement and the Internet industry.

In a series of workshops, participants will look into:

·          Capacity building on cybercrime (live webcast)

·          Legislation on cybercrime and capacity building in the Asia/Pacific region

·          Service provider/law enforcement co-operation on cybercrime and electronic evidence (Chatham House Rules)

·          Terrorism and information technology: the criminal justice perspective (Chatham House Rules)

·          Legislation on cybercrime and electronic evidence in Africa

·          International co-operation: workshop for 24/7 points of contact and MLA authorities (workshop closed to the press)

·          Seeking synergies: policies and initiatives on cybercrime of international and private sector organisations (live webcast)

·          Targeting proceeds from crime online

·          Crime and jurisdiction in cyberspace: access to electronic evidence (Chatham House Rules)

The Council of Europe Secretary General, Thorbjørn Jagland, will open the conference at 9 am on Wednesday 16 November (hemicycle).

Practical information:

Most of the conference is open to the press (see programme) and will be broadcast live on the Internet: www.coe.int/octopus2016.

More information – Main achievements - Video

Contact: Estelle Steiner, Spokesperson/Press Officer, tel. +33 3 88 41 33 35, mobile +33 6 08 46 01 57