Malta has approved the first supplementary protocol to the Council of Europe’s Cybercrime Convention, which criminalizes acts motivated by racism and xenophobia carried out over computer systems.
Justice Minister Jonathan Attard on Wednesday praised the ratification as a “major step in Malta’s ongoing dedication to justice, human rights, and the defense of the digital realm.”
Attard noted in a meeting with Alain Berset, secretary general of the Council of Europe, that the ratification “reflects a firm resolve to confront cybercrime in all its forms, particularly where it intersects with hate speech and discrimination.”
He reiterated Malta’s commitment to multilateralism and emphasized the need for international cooperation to uphold the basic principles of justice and digital dignity.
Held during Malta’s presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the signing occurred on the fringes of the Octopus Conference on Cybercrime 2025. The minister emphasized Malta’s proactive leadership in encouraging global cooperation to address the changing threats posed by cybercrime in his initial speech.
Attard said, “Cybercrime is no longer a marginal problem; it is a core, expanding, and worldwide threat.”
Legislation to outlaw cyberstalking and cyberbullying is being developed in Malta; a bill is currently going through second reading in Parliament. The suggested legislation offers better punishments for criminals, increased protection for weak people, and more precise legal definitions.
The minister also described national initiatives to counter new cyber threats, including the misuse of deepfake technology, identity theft, and commercial email compromise, often known as CEO fraud. He cautioned that such crimes not only damage reputation and economics but also erode public trust in digital infrastructure.
While aggressively engaging on secured information-sharing platforms like SIENA, Malta is strengthening its cooperation with worldwide police and judicial agencies, including INTERPOL, Europol, and Eurojust. To guarantee legal consistency and agility in dealing with cyber threats, national laws are being aligned with EU directives and Council of Europe instruments.
