Cyber-diplomacy web discussion: Norms and confidence building measures (CBMs): Are we there yet?

As cyberspace increasingly gets (mis)used by states for military purposes, international negotiations on rules of behaviour in cyberspace evolve, in particular within the UN context. DiploFoundation, with the support of Microsoft, is organising a series of cyber-diplomacy web discussions which aim to map trends, introduce challenges, clarify open issues on the negotiation table, outline processes where discussions are happening, and explain how all of us can get involved.

The Norms and confidence building measures: Are we there yet? web discussion will look into the importance of norms and confidence building measures (CBMs), go over already existing norms and CBMs in cyberspace, and debate the need for new ones.

Thursday, 21st November 2019, 13 UTC (14 CET)

Possible issues for discussion include:

What are norms and confidence building measures (CBMs) and why do they matter (on global and regional scales)? Do we have an agreed upon framework on responsible behaviour for cyberspace? What norms and CBMs do we already have? Do we need more norms, and if so, what is missing? How do we enforce the agreed upon framework? Where are these discussions taking place, and how can we get involved?

This webinar is the fourth in a series of cyber-diplomacy web discussions which consisted of four hour-long webinars, running from October to November 2019. Each debate involved recognised international experts in the field, and a senior fellow of DiploFoundation as the moderator. Thematic focus of the web discussions was on pertinent issues related to ongoing global negotiations about responsible behaviour in cyberspace: trends and impacts of cyber-armament, applicability of international law to cyberspace, challenges of traceability and attribution of cyber-attack, and perspectives and applicability of norms and confidence building measures. To make the webinars ‘actionable’ and help participants get involved, the webinars discussed open issues, effects on security, human rights and economic development, and reviewed existing processes and avenues of contributions by various actors.

Discussants

• Abdul-Hakeem Ajijola, Commissioner at the Global Commission for Stability of Cyberspace, and Executive Chairman of Consultancy Support Services Ltd

• Bart Hogeveen, Head of Cyber Capacity Building at the International Cyber Policy Centre, Australian Strategic Policy Institute

Host and moderator

• Vladimir Radunovic, Cybersecurity and E-diplomacy Programmes Director, DiploFoundation

Timeline for the entire series:

• 22 October 2019: Cyber-armament: A heavy impact on peace, economic development, and human rights
• 7 November 2019: Applicability of international law to cyberspace: Do we know the rules of the road?
• 15 November 2019: Traceability and attribution of cyber-attacks: Who did it?
• 21 November 2019: Norms and confidence building measures (CBMs): Are we there yet?

For background information about the context, and the open and controversial issues discussed in the main negotiation tracks - the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (UN GGE) and the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) - visit the dedicated GIP Digital Watch page.