Cyberthreats and International Law

Description
Preface

Table of Contents

	Methodology
I	Conceptualization of Cyberthreats
II	Interstate Cyberthreats
III	Non-State Actor Cyberthreats
IV	Jurisdiction and Cyberspace
V	A New Approach Toward Cyberthreats
Literature
Index

Description

The book revolves around the public international law aspects of the destructive use of cyberspace by state actors and non-state actors, encompassing cyberwar, cyberterrorism, and hacktivism, but excluding cybercrime. For the purpose of delimitation, it also addresses cyberespionage and political activism in cyberspace. By providing an overview of the technical background, the book explains the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure. It outlines notable cyberincidents occurred so far and analyzes pertinent state practice and policies. Turning to the legal analysis, it primarily focuses on the contemporary jus ad bellum and jus in bello, exploring whether concepts like the use of force or self-defense, are applicable to cyberattacks, despite their lack of physicality, or whether state responsibility and the principles of International Humanitarian Law are applicaple to cyberspace, in particular in the light of an evident civilianization of battlespace in this area. Furthermore, the book encompasses destructive cyberterrorism and opposes it to the use of cyberspace for terrorist purposes, and puts this into context with human rights aspects of political activism in cyberspace. It also looks into jurisdictional pitfalls borne in cyberspace. After a brief summary of the research results, the final chapter is dedicated to providing recommendations to the international community, in order to address cyberthreats in a political process.

Target group

This publication is aimed at legal practitioners, experts from governments, military, academia and the private sector involved in cyber security.

Author's information

Georg Kerschischnig studied law in Austria, subsequently served a judicial clerkship, and worked with a consultancy that focuses on software development. Later, while working on his doctoral thesis, he assisted the missions of Austria and Liechtenstein to the United Nations (UN) in New York during three consecutive fall sessions of the Sixth Committee (Legal) of the UN General Assembly. After obtaining his doctorate degree in law, he continued working as Assistant Legal Adviser for the Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to the UN in New York, followed by an assignment with the UN at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

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