[JURIST] The US Senate on Thursday ratified the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime [text], which is intended to improve information- and evidence-sharing between national governments to prevent crimes on the Internet. The convention has been signed by 38 European countries along with Japan, Canada, and South Africa. The treaty will enter into force for the US on December 1, 2006.

US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales [official profile] applauded the ratification [DOJ press release], saying that "[t]he Convention is in full accord with all US constitutional protections, such as free speech and other civil liberties, and will require no change to US laws." Provisions of the treaty are aimed at combating terror networks, child exploitation, and information and identity theft. AP has more.