Cybersecurity Governance – international law as policy driver?

Abstract

Governance issues in the cybersecurity context have so far not become a key discussion topic, probably due to the fact that the existing legal instruments of global organizations do not play an important role in reality. This contribution pleads for a change of the perspective: As new regulatory models, alternative normative standards such as the concept of public goods, the concept of shared spaces and the concept of State responsibility should be made fruitful. These concepts appear to be suitable for giving guidelines at hand that support the improvement of the cybersecurity environment.<br/>The Internet as the most important global “infrastructure” is an ecosystem in which international law, with all its perplexities, should exercise a relevant function, particularly in view of the threats to which cybersecurity is exposed. Yet the current approach of politicians, scholars and practitioners shows a pertaining reluctance to embrace the challenges posed by cyberattacks to the most important international electronic network. An effective and coherent application of international legal concepts could support the efforts of realizing a higher level of Internet integrity.