UNITED NATIONS, With over 4.6 billion internet users around the world, digital advances continue to revolutionize human life, but \u201cwe must remain vigilant\u201d in the face of malicious technologies that \u201ccould imperil the security of future generations\u201d, the head of the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (ODA), Izumi Nakamitsu, told the Security Council on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cDigital technologies are increasingly straining existing legal, humanitarian and ethical norms, non-proliferation, international stability, and peace and security\u201d, she warned the Estonian-sponsored meeting, focused on peace and security in cyberspace.<\/p>\n
Moreover, she continued, they are lowering access barriers and opening new potential domains for conflict \u2013 giving both State and non-State actors the ability to wage attacks, including across international borders.<\/p>\n
By 2022, an estimated 28.5 billion networked devices will be connected to the internet, a significant increase from the 18 billion in 2017, according to the ODA chief.<\/p>\n
From disinformation to deliberate network disruptions, in recent years there has been a dramatic jump in malicious incidents targeting information and communications technology (ICT) that diminish trust between States and threaten critical infrastructure that depends on it.<\/p>\n
Ms. Nakamitsu recalled the Secretary-General\u2019s concern over increasing cyberattacks on healthcare facilities during the COVOID pandemic, calling on the international community to do more to prevent and end them.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnline violent extremism and trafficking have an often-overlooked differentiated impact on women, men and children, as do other ICT-related threats such as cyberstalking, intimate partner violence and the non-consensual dissemination of intimate information and images\u201d, she said, citing this as the reason why \u201cequal, full and effective participation\u201d of both women and men in decision-making in the digital arena must be prioritized.<\/p>\n
For more than a decade expert groups at the government level have studied and made recommendations to address existing and emerging ICT dangers to international security, including confidence-building, capacity-building and cooperation measures while a so-called Open-ended Working Group has adopted \u201cconcrete, action-oriented recommendations\u201d, the UN official said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, regional organizations are also undertaking efforts, from implementing voluntary, non-binding norms on States to pioneering regional confidence-building measures or adopting regional tools to reduce ICT risks.<\/p>\n
While the primary responsibility for international security lies with States, ICTs are an integral part of societies, and participants too have a role to play in securing cyberspace, she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerspectives from the private sector, civil society and academia contribute a unique and important part of the collective solution to cyber-security that the international community is seeking\u201d.<\/p>\n
Ms. Nakamitsu said the UN \u201cstands ready to support States\u201d and others in promoting a peaceful ICT environment, and cited the Secretary-General\u2019s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation along with subsequent roundtable discussions that led to a Roadmap, which recommends actions for cooperation in the digital space.<\/p>\n
The UN chief\u2019s Agenda for Disarmament, addresses new generation technologies that pose challenges to \u201cexisting legal, humanitarian and ethical norms; non-proliferation; and peace and security\u201d, she added.<\/p>\n
The agenda calls for working with scientists, engineers and industry on technological innovation for peaceful purposes, and engaging with Member States to \u201cfoster a culture of accountability and adherence to emerging norms, rules and principles on responsible behaviour in cyberspace\u201d.<\/p>\n
As the digital space has come to underpin most aspects of daily life, the scale and pervasiveness of ICT \u201cinsecurity\u201d is a major concern, the Disarmament chief said.<\/p>\n
She urged caution over assigning responsibility for ICT attacks, which could cause \u201csignificant consequences, including unintended armed responses and escalation\u201d; States adopting \u201coffensive postures\u201d for hostile technology uses; and the development of \u201cpotentially destabilizing capabilities\u201d by non-State armed and criminal groups, \u201cwith a high degree of impunity\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngagement by the Security Council on this issue is paramount\u201d, the ODA official added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UNITED NATIONS, With over 4.6 billion internet users around the world, digital advances continue to revolutionize human life, but \u201cwe must remain vigilant\u201d in the face of malicious technologies that \u201ccould imperil the security of future generations\u201d, the head of the UN Office for Disarmament […]<\/p>\n
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