The Harmonisation of Cybercrime Laws Under the Budapest Convention; The Effects on the International Cybercrime Laws

Abstract

The continued use of electronic commerce or transactions has brought an array of social-economic and legal issues that have raised substantial challenges in policing the internet globally. Most countries have implemented cybercrime laws as the primary strategy to minimise the incidence of cyber-related crimes within their jurisdictions. However, the effectiveness of individual laws on cybercrimes has always been in question, given the increase in such crimes under different jurisdictions. The Budapest Convention on Cybercrime has mainly been globally diffused and operates as a model law in drafting domestic cybercrime legislation in copious countries. The Convention aimed to create a global instrument that would handle cybercrimes effectively by harmonising cybercrimes internationally. As there is a need for different nations to harmonise their domestic laws and make reforms needed to address cybercrimes effectively.