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Advancements in Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) present both opportunities and challenges. In
the range of threats that states and the global community face, ICTs are
unique: they are ever-present, and not inherently military in nature.
Moreover, there are multiple ways in which ICTs can pose security threats.
They can be used to damage information resources and infrastructures, and
terrorist or criminal groups can use them to communicate, solicit funding,
and could use ICTs as means to disrupt economic institutions. Also, national
critical infrastructures are becoming increasingly reliant on ICTs, such
that any disruption caused by malicious intent could pose serious
consequences for national security and public safety.
ICTs are often owned and operated by the private sector, and their potential
to create harm is largely based on users’ motives. They have both civilian
and military uses, especially for maintaining international stability and
security, and ICT maintenance is vital for the development of global and
national economies. The United Nations is working closely with Member States
and the international community to encourage collaboration on advancing the
security and effectiveness of this technology. There is also disagreement at
the international level about what constitutes acceptable use of ICTs by
states; that is, to what extent can and should states develop ICTs for
military and intelligence purposes?
While ICTs are a relatively recent innovation, the United Nations has been
engaged in developing a common framework of the role of ICTs in the global
community and in assessing the potential threats that they pose to peace and
security. The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) took place, in
2003 (first phase) and 2005 (second phase). This was the first high-level UN
meeting to specifically address communication technology. The WSIS products,
the Geneva Declaration of Principles and the Tunis Agenda, both took a broad
view of information technology within a global context addressing its role
in development, capacity-building in the developing world, and a financing
mechanism. Action Line C5 in the Declaration of Principles covers the need
for building confidence and enhancing the security of ICTs. The
International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is charged with monitoring
progress on the WSIS Plan of Action and WSIS plus 5 goals.
In May 2007, the ITU established the Global Cybercrime Agenda (GCA). The GCA
established a High-Level Experts Group (HLEG) to provide the ITU with
recommendations. In their Global Strategic Report, the group recommended
that legal measures, technical and procedural measures, organizational
structures, capacity building, and international cooperation all needed
further attention from the international community.
The General Assembly (GA) has also
been actively engaged in monitoring ICT developments and their impact on
international security. The GA has called on Member States to engage in
multilateral discussions of current and potential threats to
telecommunication networks. The GA has made ongoing requests for Member
States to inform the Secretary-General of their progress in strengthening
information security and opportunities for the international community to
strengthen information security at the global level. Also the General
Assembly requested that the Secretary General convene a Group of
Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and
Telecommunications in the Context of International Security.
The Group of Experts outlined potential threats ICTs could pose to the
global community, such as terrorist organizations using ICTs to advance
their networks. The most recent report to the GA from the Group of Experts
in 2010 provided a list of recommendations to the General Assembly that
included (1) engaging in dialogue with Member States on acceptable norms for
state use of ICT, (2) supporting confidence-building, stability and risk
reduction measures for State use of ICTs, (3) facilitating information
exchange on national, regional, and international security strategies, and
(4) supporting capacity-building in less developed countries.
Information and Communication Technology will continue to play an important
role for both economic and social development. Solutions to help fund and
develop the efficiency and seccurity of their ICTs are crucial for peace and
security. The UN will continue to play a key role in facilitating
cooperation among Member States against dangers posed to ICT systems and
infrastructure. The General Assembly has requested that the
Secretary-General establish a future group of governmental experts in 2012
to continue researching solutions on this topic. Until then, the standards
on the use for ICTs and measures to foster strategic security-building are
likely to remain on the GA agenda.
Questions to consider from your government’s perspective on this
issue include
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How can states and
the international community balance to the need for need for
enhanced security for ICTs while at the same time
capitalizing on their potential benefits to social and
economic development?
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How do the challenges of ensuring the
security of ICTs differ in developing countries vs.
developed countries?
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What role should the private sector play
in ensuring the security of telecommunication networks?
Bibliography
“Ban Underlines the Role of Information Technologies in Accelerating
Development.” UN News Centre (16 May 2011). www.un.org/news.
“Cybercrime.” INTERPOL (2008).
http://www.interpol.int/Public/ICPO/FactSheets/FHT02.pdf.
“Experts at UN-Backed Meeting Lay Foundation for Global Cybersecurity
Roadmap.” UN News Centre (8 October 2007) www.un.org/news.
Hargreaves, Caroline and Sanjana Hattotuwa. “ICTs for the Prevention of Mass
Atrocity Crimes.” ICT for Peace Foundation (October 2010).
http://ict4peace.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ICTs-for-the-Prevention-of-Mass-Atrocity-Crimes1.pdf.
“Report on the World Summit on the Information Society Stocktaking 2010:
Tracking Progress.” International Telecommunication Union (2010).
http://groups.itu.int/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=ecY3JFUoRoA%3D&tabid=740
“Robust Regulation of Information Technology Crucial for Economic Growth –
UN.” UN News Centre (31 March 2011). www.un.org/news.
Schjolberg, Stein and Solange Ghernaouti-Helie.
“A Global Treaty on Cybersecurity and Cybercrime,” (2011).
http://www.cybercrimelaw.net/documents/A_Global_Treaty_on_Cybersecurity_and_Cybercrime,_Second_edition_2011.pdf.
“Trends in Telecommunication Reform: Enabling Tomorrow’s Digital World
2010-11.” International Telecommunication Union (March 2011).
http://www.itu.int/dms_pub/itu-d/opb/reg/D-REGTTR.12-2010-SUM-PDF-E.pdf.
“UN Forum Urges Asia-Pacific Nations to Band Together to Fight
Cyber-Crime.”UN News Centre (23 September 2009).
www.un.org/news.
“UN telecommunications agency partners with global coalition to combat cyber
threats”, UN News Centre, 4 September 2008,
www.un.org/news.
“UN Report Shows Broadband Potential for Economic and Social Development.”
UN News Center (6 June 2011).
www.un.org/news.
UN Documents
A/65/154
A/65/201
A/65/409
A/64/129/Add.1
A/RES/65/41
A/RES/65/141
A/RES/64/25
A/RES/64/211
A/RES/63/37
A/RES/62/17
A/RES/60/45
WSIS-03/GENEVA/DOC/0009 (rev. 1)
WSIS-05/TUNIS/DOC/6 (rev. 1)
Additional Web Resources
www.itu.int/ – International
Telecommunication Union
ict4peace.org – ICT 4 Peace Foundation
www.unidr.org/html.en/home.html – United Nations Institute for
Disarmament Research
www.un-gaid.org – Global Alliance for
ICT and Development
www.interpol.int – International
Criminal Police Organization
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