Reflexions on the hostile activities in cyberspace and the international legal landscape promoted by the United Nations

The United Nations is constantly involved in the creation of an international legal framework to apply to malicious operations in cyberspace. Yearly the United Nations (UN) Open-ended Working Group on the Security and Use of Information and Communications Technologies (OEWG) submit to UN member states a report on the application of the eleven voluntary non-binding norms of responsible state behaviour in the use of Information and Communications Technologies (UN non-binding norms) that includes practical regulatory proposals. In July 2024 these proposals are action-oriented which may have a potential role in reducing risks to international peace and security that is threatened in the digital environment. The increasing sophistication and frequency of cyber-attacks by state and non-state actors highlight the urgent need for a robust and adaptive international legal framework. As cyber operations continue to blur the lines between conventional and unconventional warfare, the international community must work together to address these emerging threats. Moreover, the challenges of attribution, accountability, evidentiary issue require innovative and cooperative solutions to be proposed at the global level. The complexity of cyberspace demands that states not only strengthen their defensive capabilities but also engage in proactive measures to prevent cyber incidents. By adopting and operationalizing the confidence-building measures proposed by UN, states can enhance the predictability of their behaviour in cyberspace, thereby reducing the risk of miscalculations and conflicts.