Egypt signed the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime on Saturday during a conference in Hanoi, becoming one of more than 60 countries to join the first global treaty aimed at tackling cross-border digital crimes, the Cabinet said in a statement. Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat signed the convention on behalf of Egypt and led the country's delegation to the event. Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024 under Resolution 79/243, the convention establishes a comprehensive legal framework for combating cybercrime, facilitating the exchange of electronic evidence, and promoting technical assistance and capacity building — particularly for developing nations. The treaty, composed of nine chapters, sets out provisions for criminalisation, jurisdiction, international cooperation, procedural and preventive measures, and implementation mechanisms. It will enter into force 90 days after ratification by 40 countries. Egypt's signature follows its active participation in negotiations since 2021, involving the ministries of foreign affairs and justice, the Administrative Control Authority (ACA), and the National Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (NTRA). Talaat said Egypt considers the rule of law as extending into cyberspace, ensuring justice applies equally in digital domains. He added that Egypt's two-decade effort to strengthen its cyber framework — through legislation, judicial institutions, law enforcement, and its National Computer and Network Emergency Response Centre — reflects its vision of building a secure and inclusive "Digital Egypt." Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: Y.Yasser
