Chapter

Cyber weapons : oxymoron or a real world phenomenon to be regulated ?

Bill Boothby

Conflict in cyber space : theoretical, strategic and legal perspectives

London ; New York : Routledge, 2016

p. 165-174

English

The first purpose of this chapter is to discuss whether the notion of cyber weapons makes practical and legal sense, and, if so, whether this has implications for the applicability of international law rules. The next section considers what, in summary form, the applicable rules of weapons law consist of, noting how some of them would seem to apply to particular kinds of cyber weapon. The obligations of states legally to review new cyber weapons, means and methods of warfare are then set forth, and the adjustments to normal processes and criteria that the legal review of cyber weapons seems likely to require are discussed. The final section seeks to draw some conclusions, noting in particular why the application of weapons law to these capabilities is important.

• Conflict in cyber space : theoretical, strategic and legal perspectives / ed. by Karsten Friis and Jens Ringsmose