Cybercrime convention now in force

An international Internet crime treaty, which requires 45 countries to criminalise computer-based fraud, has come into force following its ratification by Lithuania, the fifth country to do so. The Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Convention covers most European countries, including Russia and other former Soviet republics. It also demands that hacking be outlawed and imposes duties on governments to work together to fight cybercrime. This is “a major global challenge which requires a coordinated international response,” said council secretary general Walter Schwimmer.