Law of Cyber Warfare

When conflicts arise between countries, these conflicts may be addressed by application of international law. This entry focuses on international law in the modern age, especially as it has been affected by modern communication technologies that increase the danger of cyberwar. First, we provide some general background information about agreements between states under international law, such as treaties. While there are many ways that international law can develop, treaties may be especially effective at addressing new technologies. Next, we turn to the main focus of this entry: applying international law to the modern communication environment, especially given the threat of cyber warfare. The threats are real and the technology is developing rapidly, but formal legal positions are still being debated. Though it is unclear how international law will apply to cyberwar, this topic is a high priority in the area of international relations and diplomacy.