Budapest Convention
Also called: Convention on Cybercrime · Topic: India's External Relations, 1947-1999: Non-alignment, Wars and Nuclear Policy · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Budapest Convention, also called the Convention on Cybercrime, is a treaty made under the Council of Europe. It was the first international treaty on cybercrime, meaning crimes committed through computers and the internet, such as online fraud and hacking. It asks member countries to make similar laws against these crimes. It also sets up ways for countries to share electronic evidence, such as emails, account records and server logs, across borders. India has not joined it. Indian critics argue that it was drafted by a small group of mostly European countries, without the Global South having a say in its rules.
Example
Cyber fraud often crosses borders. Indians reported more than ₹55,050 crore lost to financial cyber fraud between 2021 and 2025. Once stolen money or evidence goes abroad, India needs other countries to act fast. Because India is not a party to the Budapest Convention, it cannot use the treaty's evidence-sharing channels. It must rely on bilateral deals and the newer UN treaty instead.
Don't confuse with
- UN Convention against Cybercrime: the UN General Assembly adopted it in December 2024. It is a global treaty negotiated by all UN members, not a Council of Europe treaty. During its talks, some countries warned that states could misuse it to justify human rights abuses.