Cyber Aggression and Self–Defense in International Law

This book provides an overvieu/ of the current state of international lau/ on cybersecurity, focusing particularly on the legal challenges and gaps in addressing cyberattacks, the use of force in cyberspace, and the limitations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in protecting infrastructure and human rights.

The study focuses on the complexities emerging in these areas and the need for a more coordinated and cooperative international legal frameu/ork.

One of the key challenges highlighted in the book is the difficulty in attributing cyberattacks. Unlike traditional military attacks, u/here the identity of the attacker is usually clear, tracing cyberattacks is often difficult. The anonymous and decentralized nature of cyberspace makes it challenging to identify perpetrators and hinders the application of existing legal frameu/orks that rely on clear attributions for accountability and responsibility. This gap in the legal frameu/ork creates a significant security vulnerability in the international system, where state and non-state actors can launch attacks u/ithout fear of retaliation.

The book also addresses the issue of regulating the use of force in cyberspace. Traditionally, the use of force in international relations has been subject to established principles of international law, such as those enshrined in the United Nations Charter. Hou/ever, cyberspace has given rise to new forms of conflict, and existing norms of international law, such as those governing armed conflict, are not fully adaptable to this new realm. This creates uncertainty about hou/ international law should respond to cyberattacks that could reach the level of "acts of u/ar." Furthermore, there is ongoing debate about u/hat constitutes the "use of force" in cyberspace and u/hether cyberattacks can be considered equivalent to traditional kinetic military actions.