Hanoi Convention: When the world acts together against cybercrime

Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Matt Thistlethwaite said the Hanoi Convention was a global turning point in the fight against cybercrime. (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

Please agree Minister, share your feelings when being present at the signing ceremony of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime today?

First of all, congratulations to Vietnam for hosting this very important UN signing ceremony on cyber security. This is an important milestone not only for Vietnam but also for the whole world , as countries work together to deal with the growing threat from cybercrime, to ensure the safety and security of people.

This is not my first time in Vietnam. Twenty years ago, my wife and I went backpacking around your beautiful country. I really love the Vietnamese people, the beautiful nature and the unique culture of your country.

I am also delighted with the warm welcome and particularly impressed by the remarkable development that Vietnam has seen over the past two decades, particularly in Hanoi. I believe that is one of the reasons why Vietnam was chosen as the venue for this important signing ceremony – demonstrating Vietnam’s strong commitment to tackling cybercrime, not only regionally but also globally, as well as its commitment to multilateralism. For that, Australia would like to express its sincere thanks.

This is also a testament to the impressive socio-economic development of Vietnam - one of the leading economies in Asia, and a partner with whom Australia wishes to continue to cooperate closely in the future. There are currently about 390,000 people of Vietnamese origin living in Australia, contributing positively to our country's economy, along with about 35,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia, working hard and making significant contributions to the Australian education system and society.

So I would like to thank Vietnam, thank your Government for your commitment to multilateralism, for your efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in the region, and for hosting this important signing ceremony.

Australia is one of the countries actively participating in the negotiation and development of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime. How does the Minister assess the significance of the Convention to the global effort to combat cybercrime and build a safe, transparent and trustworthy cyberspace?

This is a pivotal moment, when the world comes together to fight cybercrime. For the first time, the international community has a comprehensive convention dedicated to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of cybercrime, including both technology-dependent crimes (such as cyberattacks) and technology-enabled crimes (such as child trafficking and the distribution of sensitive images). Above all, the world unanimously affirms that these are criminal acts and need a common framework for effective investigation and prosecution.

The Convention also details how evidence is shared and protected, ensuring transparency and effectiveness in the legal systems of member states. This is truly a global turning point in the fight against cybercrime, and Vietnam is at the forefront of this process, and you can be proud of that.

Dear Co-Minister, Cyber security is currently one of the main pillars of cooperation between Vietnam and Australia. How do you assess Vietnam's role in hosting this signing ceremony?

Earlier this year, Australia and Vietnam signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on cyber security and critical technology cooperation, demonstrating the commitment of both governments to share information, build capacity for their people and coordinate in multilateral forums such as this one. This is a prime example of the effective cooperation between the two countries to protect people, businesses and the economy from the risk of cybercrime.

Australia is also taking action at the regional level through our foreign policy focus on Southeast Asia and the Pacific. We are providing $85 million to support partner countries, including Vietnam, to strengthen their capacity to combat cybercrime and protect their people and economies.

Hanoi Convention: When the world acts together against cybercrime

The Hanoi Convention marks the first time the international community has a comprehensive convention dedicated to the prevention, investigation and prosecution of cybercrimes, including technology-based and technology-enabled crimes. (Photo: Thanh Long)

After the signing ceremony, what specific steps will Australia take to cooperate with Vietnam and member countries in implementing the Convention, sir?

I am looking forward to visiting RMIT University - an Australian university operating in Hanoi, to meet Vietnamese students participating in the hackathon simulating cyber attacks and defenses.

Such activities help students practice the security principles outlined in the Hanoi Convention, thereby contributing to ensuring cyber security in the future.

This is a vivid example of how Australia and Vietnam are working together to build capacity, share information and skills to protect people from cybercrime. We are pleased that Australian education institutions in Vietnam are actively contributing to this process.

According to the Co-Minister, what are the emerging cybersecurity challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, and how will this Convention help address them?

I believe that cybercrime is not limited by national borders. It is a global problem that every economy is facing.

Australia has suffered a number of serious cyber attacks targeting telecommunications companies, insurance companies and even its national airline. Most of these attacks originated from overseas. This shows that no country can deal with it alone, and this is why today’s Convention and Signing Ceremony are so significant: the world has recognised the scale of the problem and is working together to build a mechanism for cooperation to deal with it.

I know that Vietnam has also experienced many cyber attacks that have affected the economy and people's lives. Therefore, Australia wishes to cooperate closely with Vietnam within the framework of this Convention to share intelligence and coordinate actions, protecting both countries against common threats.

Women and children are the most vulnerable groups in cyberspace. Does Australia have any initiatives that Vietnam can learn from or collaborate with to enhance the protection of these groups, Mr. Co-Minister?

Cyberspace not only facilitates technical attacks, but also allows crimes that cross borders, such as the distribution of child pornography or the unauthorized sharing of intimate images. These are dangerous crimes that are on the rise globally. That is why governments around the world have come together and said “it’s time to stop.”

The Hanoi Convention is a concrete step towards protecting people from online crimes, through information sharing, coordinated investigation and prosecution, not only of direct cybercrime but also of crimes with technological elements such as image abuse, sexual exploitation and child trafficking. This is a global commitment and we need to do it as soon as possible.

Thank you very much, Minister!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cong-uoc-ha-noi-khi-the-gioi-cung-nhau-hanh-dong-chong-lai-toi-pham-mang-332203.html