Ongoing discussions at the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on the security of and in the use of information and communications technologies (OEWG) reaffirmed the need to work together to protect critical infrastructures, networks, and systems from malicious actors and online threats and risks. At the same time, it emerged on many occasions that it is crucial to consider the human perspective of such cyber threats and risks. Therefore, collaborative and governing mechanisms between states for peace and stability in cyberspace must primarily protect people and their rights while behaving responsibly in cyberspace.
In this context, the Delegation of the European Union to the UN, Cyber Resilience 4 Development (Cyber4Dev) and the EU Cyber Diplomacy Initiative – EU Cyber Direct organised an interactive workshop on the human-centric approach to cybersecurity. The expert-led interactive workshop provided a broad overview of how States and other stakeholders have approached the matter of the human-centric approach to cybersecurity, key concepts, and the international and regional legislative frameworks that underpin it, primarily related to human rights.
The discussion focussed on a number of critical topics including:
- What does a human-centric approach to cybersecurity mean in the context of the OEWG on responsible state behaviour in cyberspace?
- Is the human-centric approach linked to the rights-based approach to cybersecurity? How?
- What are the existing and emerging international and regional frameworks on the rights-based approach to cybersecurity?
- What are some of the opportunities and challenges of considering and implementing a human-centric approach in cybersecurity?
The workshop included opening remarks by Manon Le Blanc (European External Action Service), Enrico Calandro (Cyber4Dev) and Andrea Salvi (EU Cyber Direct) and interventions by Anriette Esterhuysen (Cyber4Dev) as well as Allison Pytlak (The Stimson Center), followed by questions and exchanges with participants.
