The convention is designed to assist cross-border investigations of cybercrimes. However, the ACLU, on behalf of numerous international civil liberty groups, complained this week that it risks the privacy of internet users and the freedom of computer programmers.
In its letter to Walter Schwimmer of the Counsel, the ACLU writes:
“Specifically, we object to provisions that will require Internet Service Providers to retain records regarding the activities of their customers… These provisions pose a significant risk to the privacy and human rights of internet users and are at odds with well established principles of data protection such as the Data Protection Directive of the European Union.”
The letter goes on to outline concerns, among others, that the treaty will “discourage the development of new security tools and give government an improper role in policing scientific innovation” and over the proposed "introduction of new criminal penalties relating to copyright infringement".