Securing the Digital Future: Cybersecurity and Digital Rights at the Council of Europe
As technology evolves, threats to cybersecurity and digital rights grow more sophisticated, posing significant challenges to individuals, organisations, and nations.
The Council of Europe champions the protection of human rights in the digital age by fostering secure, accessible, and equitable online space, ensuring that technology enhances rather than undermines democracy and the rule of law.
Council of Europe Priorities in Cybersecurity and Digital Rights
Protecting Personal Data: Ensuring that individuals’ rights to privacy are safeguarded in the digital realm.
Enhancing Digital Governance: Promoting transparency, accountability and human-centred approaches in digital policies to protect users and foster innovation.
Ensuring Freedom of Expression Online: Balancing cybersecurity measures with the right to freedom of speech, while combating hate speech and misinformation.
Policymakers, researchers and practitioners from the Pompidou Group member States and internationally gathered in Vienna and online on 2–3 June 2026 for a thematic seminar dedicated to the topic of online and digital addictions....
The Venice Commission focuses on digital governance as part of its work to assist and advise countries on their constitutions and ensure that democratic institutions function optimally.
The Committee on Artificial Intelligence l oversees how governments are implementing the Framework Convention on AI, ensuring that AI systems align with human rights, democracy and the rule of law. It drafts guidance for member states on managing AI risks effectively. The Ad hoc Committee on AI prepared the groundwork for the Framework Convention and provides expert analysis and recommendations on AI-related policies.
The European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), made up of independent experts from each Council of Europe member state, looks at how digital rights can be safeguarded and how such technology can be used to improve the efficiency and functioning of justice in the Council of Europe region.
The Cybercrime Convention Committee (T-CY) represents the State Parties to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).
Based on article 46 of the Convention, the consultation of the Committee aims at facilitating the effective use and implementation of the Convention, the exchange of information and consideration of any future amendments.
The Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Programme Office (C-PROC), in Bucharest, Romania, assists countries worldwide to strengthen their legal systems to respond to challenges posed by cybercrime and the collection of evidence through electronic means, based on the convention standards.
Highlights of the Council of Europe's Mission to Guarantee
Cybersecurity and Digital Rights
The Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) is the most comprehensive international agreement on cybercrime and electronic evidence to date. It serves as a guideline for any country developing domestic legislation on cybercrime and as a framework for international co-operation. It criminalises all kinds of conduct carried out over the internet – ranging from illegal access, data and systems interference to computer-related fraud and child pornography – and sets out procedural powers to investigate cybercrime and secure electronic evidence in relation to any crime. It is supplemented by two Protocols – one covering xenophobia and racism, and another one that provides a legal basis for enhanced co-operation and disclosure of electronic evidence.
Data protection
The Council of Europe data protection convention was opened for signature by countries over forty years ago – a pioneer in protecting people’s data. Since then, it has adapted to changing technologies, providing a safeguard in protecting people’s right to privacy and to access their personal data.
