well-consent
Abstract
Background. Nation states unleash cyber attacks targeting other nation
states (e.g. WannaCry, SolarWinds), termed “offensive cyber operations”.
When such aggressions are deemed, according to the UN Charter, to
constitute a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression
towards a nation state, governments might choose to respond. Responses
can range from silence all the way to retaliation, at the other end of the
scale. The emergence of cyber diplomacy suggests a less militant and
potentially powerful response option. Barrinha and Renard [5] explain that
the rise of cyber diplomacy has coincided with “a growing contestation
of the values, institutions and power dynamics of the liberal-created
cyberspace”. (p.3). The question is: how could cyber diplomacy fit into a
strategic threat management plan?
Aim. To position cyber diplomacy within a strategic response to nation
state offensive cyber operations.
Method. To help us to position cyber diplomacy’s role in this domain,
we first examine historical cyber conflicts, and governments’ responses to
these, as well as testing the factors that might explain response choice. We
then review a number of proposed options for managing cyber conflicts.
Results. We propose a comprehensive “Five D’s” strategic framework
to manage the threat of offensive cyber operations. Cyber diplomacy is
included, acknowledging its emerging and potentially powerful role in
managing cyber conflicts in the future.
Conclusions. Cyber diplomacy has recently emerged and it has not
yet been widely deployed. We show how it can be positioned within a
strategic framework for managing the threat of offensive cyber operations
from other nation states.
