The Biden administration this week will support a U.N. treaty that would create a new convention against cybercrime that includes China and Russia — which has not sat well with some lawmakers and critics.

Since 2001, global governance around cybercrime has been largely coordinated by the Budapest Convention, a product of Council of Europe which includes 76 countries. Does not include Russia or China. However, under the new UN convention on cybercrime, these two adversary nations will be welcomed into the global governance of cybercrime.

The move, confirmed by senior officials familiar with the matter, has been met with concern from those who fear a new global cybersecurity alliance involving two of the nation’s most adversarial nations could cause trouble.

CYBER ATTACKS AGAINST AMERICANS IN NEED OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS

Delegates attend the UN Security Council meeting regarding the current North Korean military escalation in Russia and Ukraine at the United Nations headquarters on October 30, 2024 in New York City.

“We recognize that defending human rights and fundamental principles of freedom on the Internet is not easy,” a group of Democratic lawmakers on the Hill wrote last week to top Biden administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Attorney General Merrick Garland and assistant. To the President of Homeland Security Affairs, Jake Sullivan. “Russia, China, and other regimes opposed to democratic freedoms are always working to create international legitimacy for their actions and worldview….Unfortunately, these efforts—while laudable—are insufficient to remedy the fundamental flaws of the convention.”

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The decision to support the new treaty came after months of deliberations between the Biden administration and others, including hundreds of non-governmental entities involved in human rights and other relevant issues. According to a senior administration official, the U.S. “decided to remain with the consensus,” citing U.S. influence over global “rights enforcement.” cyber security policy will be higher under the new convention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, October 22, 2024. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via REUTERS)

To help address concerns that have been raised about the convention, the Biden administration plans to develop a risk management plan and will engage with non-governmental stakeholders to help refine it.

A “consensus procedure” was held on Monday and the resolution was approved without a vote. Conformable Political, it is expected to be adopted by the General Assembly later this year.

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Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump announced Monday that he will nominate New York GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik to be the next U.N. ambassador in his administration.

The White House declined to comment on the record for this story.