1. The necessity of International Law on Cyber Society[Cause – effect Analysis Essay]

The 2010s will be remembered as the year that gave a turning point to global political research in cyber society. In March 2013, Korea’s major broadcasting stations and financial institutions were hacked, causing the biggest danger ever (3.20 cyber terror). And Edward Snowden’s revelations revealed that the U.S. had conducted extensive wiretapping on other countries. Information technology induced innovation in an unprecedented way. The Internet has connected people to ways and sizes that were never imagined before. Knowledge and information have become public property more than ever. All new technologies present new opportunities and challenges. We need to pay some attention to enjoy these freedoms. The preceding examples are the failure to pay such attention and obligations. It also provides a direct understanding of why cyber international law is needed. I will explain three reasons why cyber international law is necessary.

 

First, it is necessary to prevent illegal economic benefits through cybercrime. We don’t go to war because of espionage between nations. But what happens if an agent is caught stealing information that could directly endanger national security? There are statistics that the U.S. loses 350 billion dollars every year from cyberattacks. It is the largest transfer of wealth in history. The digital revolution no longer requires massive investments likes satellites, aircraft and submarines, but only a few laptops and a few capable hackers can secure important information. This may break the foundation of the capitalist system in that it takes unfair profits without due effort. We need to enact international laws to prevent this and punish those who take unfair gains.

 

Second, it is necessary to establish principles for cyberattacks short of war (CASoW). War is no longer just carried out by bombs and bullets. Beats and bytes have become as destructive as missiles. The worm attack, named the Stuxnet of the United States on Iran's Natanz uranium enrichment facility, shows it could destroy the nuclear power plant. In particular, countries with asymmetric power can hardly resist the temptation of cyberattacks that have become new war tools. This is because operational costs are low and it is almost impossible to identify the attacker. Already, several countries have established cyber units in the military and included cyber weapons in their usual war-fighting plans. North Korea may be a good example. Cyberattacks that result in physical damage or loss of lives have been allowed to fall within the scope of traditional war. However, due to the nature of cyberspace, there are currently no international legal codes that will enforce it.

 

Finally, it is necessary to set the correct direction of national policy and technology development. The European Union has created its own manual called Tallinn Manual. European companies are developing technologies to ensure that they do not infringe upon the sovereignty of each country according to the manual. In addition, European countries are implementing modernized policies such as electronic voting by ensuring the concept of sovereignty in cyberspace. These examples make us feel the need for cyber international law.

 

Traditional war laws cannot address cyber issues. Cyberattacks can seriously disrupt economic, social and government without causing macro-physical damage or loss of lives. Nor did countries create a deterrent against future attacks, as there were no situations that had reached the point of triggering a traditional war. If the world does not reach an agreement on cyber, today's highly interconnected countries' security and economies will face serious threats. Leaving the cyber lawless zone unattended is a self-inflict tragedy of mankind. We can maintain peace and security stability in a way that corrects the order of international law. In addition, these actions can also ensure an open and innovative digital realm.