The Human Impact of the UN's Cybercrime Treaty – From Policy to Protection
- Brainz Magazine
- 5 days ago
- 6 min read
Christopher Smith is an award-winning author and entrepreneur dedicated to protecting people from cybercrime. After being the target of a major cyberattack, he founded DFend, a digital safety platform, and wrote Privacy Pandemic, inspired by his real-life story.
Can laws adapt to borderless digital technology? Award-winning author and digital safety advocate, Christopher A. Smith, examines the impact of the UN's new cybercrime treaty on individuals, governments, and businesses worldwide.
After experiencing a 2018 cyberattack that exposed how fragmented legal systems can fail victims, Smith began advocating for digital safety as a fundamental right. With 65 nations now signing a UN Cybercrime Convention, he sees this as a significant global advance in digital safety.
Drawing from personal and professional experience, Smith explores how this treaty could finally close the persistent gap between global policy and coordinated protection for all.
The digital world looked very different seven years ago
In 2018, limited coordination between systems and authorities allowed digital risks to cross borders and jurisdictions largely unchecked. This situation demonstrated the urgent need for a unified, human-centered response to cybercrime, setting the stage for the systemic challenges that followed. As these challenges intensified, their impacts became increasingly personal for those affected.
This urgency became deeply personal for me as a technology executive targeted by international bad actors. Amid this environment, I witnessed firsthand how fragmented legal systems and overlapping law enforcement jurisdictions undermined accountability for bad actors and increased the human cost. My personal experience bridged the broader systemic risks to individual victims like myself. Reflecting on these events led me to a vital realization.
I saw an overlooked truth, cybercrime's toll goes beyond financial loss. It impacts victims emotionally and psychologically and shows the personal costs behind systemic vulnerabilities. Recognizing these personal impacts, it's essential to consider how society perceives and addresses cyber threats.
Cybercrime has traditionally been seen as a technical issue rather than a global crisis. The 2025 ITRC report challenges this, showing laws lagged as threats grew and the human toll rose. The following data further illustrates the gravity of this crisis.
The latest ITRC report reveals the actual depth of cybercrime. For example, 25% of consumers considered self-harm after identity theft, fraud, or scams. Of those affected, 67.8% answered "Yes" to the same question. Direct ITRC contacts rose to 14.4%, up more than 2% from 2024.
Financially, over 20% lost more than $100,000, and over 10% lost at least $1 million. You can find the report below.
Now, imagine if 100 people in your community fell victim to cybercrime, identity theft, or fraud, and 14 of them would seriously consider self-harm, through no fault of their own. How would you respond?
A global treaty for borderless crimes
Last month, 65 nations signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime in Hanoi, following years of negotiations, thereby establishing the first global framework for investigating and prosecuting cybercrime.
Notably absent from the list of initial signatories, however, was the United States, which cited ongoing concerns echoed by digital rights groups.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the treaty "as a powerful, legally binding instrument that strengthens collective defenses against cybercrime." He emphasized that in cyberspace, global safety depends on universal participation.
After extensive negotiations, this treaty delivers an overdue acknowledgment, cybercrime transcends national boundaries and demands coordinated international partnerships to pursue justice. Building on its policy framework, it also signifies a significant shift in how human rights are defined in the digital landscape.
The Convention introduces several transformative features, it establishes a 24/7 international cooperation network dedicated to cybercrime response, creates standardized processes for sharing digital evidence across borders, and, notably, criminalizes the non-consensual sharing of intimate images within an international framework. This comprehensive approach is a historic victory for victims of digital exploitation and a significant advance in global cybercrime law.
In essence, this treaty establishes policy, clearly defines digital safety as a universal human right, and ensures that all individuals have access to practical protections, regardless of their circumstances.
Why the treaty matters for individuals
Cybercrime impacts individuals directly, extending beyond technical systems to threaten people, their privacy, and livelihoods.
Cybercriminals send phishing emails, launch data breaches, and create deepfake videos by manipulating human trust. Yet, until now, international law has largely failed to protect individuals from these threats.
At DFend, we’re developing technology solutions that support and complement policy frameworks. We help individuals recognize threats, understand changes in their digital behavior, strengthen their digital identity security, and proactively manage their online safety.
The UN treaty's principles align directly with DFend's mission, protecting individuals strengthens institutions and societies. When people have the tools and legal protections to defend themselves, entire communities become more resilient.
A safer digital future for all
In 2018, my digital identity was compromised abroad, exposing serious gaps in protection and the immense challenges in cross-border investigations. Global efforts against cybercrime were fragmented and rarely helped victims. That is beginning to change.
That incident inspired me to study digital identity protection worldwide and talk to experts, which led to my book, Privacy Pandemic, and the idea for DFend. In Privacy Pandemic, I highlighted the urgent need for an international cybercrime code, writing:
"Law enforcement agencies and governments must recognize that because the world of digital identity theft is without boundaries, the laws to fight it can't have boundaries either. I plan to go before Congress and testify to the need for an international cybercrime code, a body of law that applies regardless of national sovereignty or boundaries and governs everyone who operates in the digital world. Imagine if a subpoena issued by a judge in Singapore had instant validity in San Francisco!"
I never testified before Congress, but my efforts to hold perpetrators accountable showed that cross-border legal frameworks and law enforcement coordination seemed beyond the reach of individuals, a challenge still faced by victims globally. Today, reform finally feels possible.
The commitment of 65 countries signals progress, but meaningful change requires more, pairing global policy with awareness, education, and enforcement to protect people.
The UN Cybercrime Convention turns that vision into practice. By enabling authorities to rapidly share and process evidence across borders, it shortens the path to justice and strengthens accountability for offenders.
What businesses stand to gain
Cybercrime isn't just a personal risk, it directly impacts business operations through data breaches, financial losses, service interruptions, and damage to industry reputation. The UN Cybercrime Convention provides businesses with more straightforward guidelines for international legal compliance and global law enforcement cooperation.
These clearer standards help organizations lower cybersecurity costs, reduce exposure when serving international customers, speed up incident response, and ultimately minimize costly disruptions and reputational harm.
For companies, the treaty establishes clear expectations for gathering and sharing digital evidence and responding to incidents internationally. These harmonized procedures make compliance simpler, reduce legal uncertainty, and enable firms to work efficiently with global law enforcement, helping protect both data and reputation.
By introducing global cyber response standards, the treaty helps businesses demonstrate strong protection and win customer trust. Cybersecurity requires shared responsibility among individuals, private sector entities, and governments.
A timely challenge for governments
The UN Cybercrime Convention is just a starting point. The challenge now is to convert international agreements into protection for people worldwide.
As Guterres said, "We must turn signatures into action." That requires funding, training, and technology for all countries, especially developing nations, and aligning this new framework with existing privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA.
Governments must commit to implementation without delay. Individuals and all stakeholders should be informed about their rights and actively participate in the Convention's processes. Prioritize action, policymakers, business leaders, and individuals must unite to drive real, practical cyber protection measures worldwide.
This collective action is vital, especially as major concerns persist from human rights and tech groups regarding the treaty's broad scope, allowing cooperation for any "serious crime", and the risk of transnational repression. Robust safeguards are urgently needed to ensure the Convention is used solely against crime and not weaponized to undermine digital freedoms and fundamental human rights.
From policy to protection for all
The treaty recognizes that security must center on individuals. Effective frameworks empower people to protect against threats. As AI evolves, public awareness grows even more critical.
Maintaining digital safety is a shared responsibility. Protecting individuals is essential to overall security, requiring awareness and action from all stakeholders.
The UN cybercrime treaty establishes vital global protections, but turning that promise into reality depends on unified enforcement and vigilance that protect people first.
Today's treaty means future victims won't have to face that isolation. But only if we turn these signatures into action, because in a borderless digital world, protecting people is the only path to protecting everyone.
Read more from Christopher A. Smith
Christopher A. Smith, Author & Digital Safety Advocate
Christopher Smith is the award-winning author of Privacy Pandemic and the founder of DFend, a digital safety platform built to protect people from cybercrime. After being the target of a major cyberattack, he transformed his story of loss into one of purpose, turning a personal crisis into a global mission. His experience inspired him to develop technology that helps individuals safeguard their identity and privacy in the age of AI. Through his work and writing, Chris advocates for greater awareness, protection, and resilience online. He believes the future of digital safety is personal, because the threat already is.
References:
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC). (2025). 2025 Identity Theft Resource Center Report.
Lytvynenko, D. (2025, October 28). US declines to join more than 70 countries in signing UN cybercrime treaty. CyberNews.
Guterres, A. (2025). Statement on the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. United Nations.
Smith, C. A. (2023). Privacy pandemic. Amplify Publishing Group.
United Nations. (2024). United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. Signed in Hanoi, Vietnam.
General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), European Union. (2016). General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), State of California. (2018). California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).
