Article

Armed attack in cyberspace : deterring asymmetric warfare with an asymmetric definition

Graham H. Todd

• The air force law review, Vol. 64, 2009, p. 65-102

English

Photocopies

The article examines cyberspace and how current approaches have attempted to apply international law to armed attacks in cyberspace. Looking through the lens of current international laws will highlight how the unique attributes of cyberspace could increase the likelihood of international conflict. The article identifies how the failure of international law to define armed attacks and weapons further exacerbates this problem and examines whether current criminal law definitions and methodologies can fill the gap and provide realistic definitions of weapons and armed attacks in cyberspace. Lastly, the article puts these proposed definitions to the test against the most challenging aspects of cyberspace : attribution and espionage.