Security aspects of international cooperation in fighting cybercrime

The paper examines the security aspects of international cooperation in combating cybercrime, emphasizing the growing complexity and transnational nature of digital threats. The introductory section outlines how global digitalization and the rapid evolution of cyberattacks create challenges that no state can address independently. The materials and methods of the study are based on international legal instruments, analytical reports, and comparative and content analysis, enabling an assessment of existing cooperation mechanisms. The purpose of the paper is to analyze security-oriented approaches to international interaction and identify effective tools for strengthening collective resilience. The results demonstrate that cybercrime has evolved into a multilayered global phenomenon marked by advanced attack techniques, difficulties in attribution, uneven cybersecurity capacities, and political constraints that hinder information exchange. The study reviews key legal frameworks, including the Budapest Convention and its protocols, UN initiatives, and regional mechanisms of the EU, NATO, and G7, highlighting their fragmented implementation. It further analyzes technical, legal, and trust-related barriers to information sharing, alongside security risks such as data leaks, political misuse of shared intelligence, and the dual-use nature of cyber tools. Based on this assessment, the paper proposes harmonization of legislation, establishment of rapid-response mechanisms, enhancement of trust-building practices, improvement of technical interoperability, and expanded public–private partnerships as essential components of effective cooperation. The conclusions emphasize that only coordinated international action, grounded in shared standards and mutual responsibility, can ensure sustainable global cybersecurity in the face of escalating digital threats.