MOSCOW, November 17. /TASS/. The BRICS countries are concerned about the rising level of criminal misuse of information technology and consider it important to develop international legal norms to combat cybercrime, according to the 12th BRICS Summit Moscow Declaration published on the Kremlin website on Tuesday. The document was adopted following the results of the BRICS leaders' summit held by videoconference.

"While emphasizing the formidable potential of the digital revolution for growth and development, we recognize new associated possibilities it brings for criminal activities and threats. We express concern over the rising level and complexity of criminal misuse of ICTs (Information and communication technologies - TASS) as well as the absence of a multilateral framework to counter the use of ICTs for criminal purposes," the BRICS leaders say.

The BRICS states recognize that "new challenges and threats in this respect require international cooperation and discussions on possible legal frameworks, including the need to elaborate a comprehensive international convention on countering the use of ICTs for criminal purposes under the auspices of the UN."

In October, Russia submitted an updated draft of the traditional Russian resolution on international information security to the First Committee of the 75th session of the UN General Assembly. The purpose of the resolution is to consolidate the maintenance of inclusive multilateral discussion within the UN by creating an appropriate open-ended working group in 2021 for a period of five years.