The challenge
The anonymous nature of cyberspace creates unique challenges to interstate cooperation. While digitalisation has brought major opportunities for innovation, economic progress and social development, it has also brought new threats, with implications for international security and stability.
As the frequency and impact of cyber-attacks has increased across all sectors throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an estimated 100% rise in ‘significant’ nation state incidents between 2017-2020. Meanwhile, attribution of cyber-attacks remains a challenge. For states, the risks of misperception or miscalculation in cyberspace pose a serious threat to international peace, in addition to the well-being of economies and societies. At a time when new threats are challenging traditional forms of conflict prevention, there is a need for dedicated mechanisms that enable transparency, trust and confidence among states.
A response
In 2018, the Organisation of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution stressing the need to prepare and agree upon a set of Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) for cyberspace to enhance interstate cooperation, transparency, and in turn stability online. CBMs are planned procedures that aim to strengthen international peace and security by reducing and eliminating the causes of mistrust, fear, misunderstanding, and miscalculations. The first meeting of the Working Group on Co-operation and Confidence-Building Measures in Cyberspace was and the proposed CBMs were agreed to with a proposed plan of action to establish additional measures.
On May 4, 2018, member states approved resolution CICTE/RES.1/18 and agreed to the two Regional CBMs to continue the work of the Working Group on Co-operation and Confidence-Building Measures in Cyberspace as a permanent mechanism, and that it continues to meet as needed, in person or by digital means, to discuss new and agreed-upon cyber CBMs.
Click aquí para ver el video en español.
