Policy paper

Application of international law to states’ conduct in cyberspace: UK statement

This statement explains the UK government’s position on some specific issues relating to how international law applies to a state’s conduct in cyberspace.

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The UK submitted this national contribution to the United Nations (UN) for part of an annex to the UN Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) consensus report on ‘Advancing responsible state behaviour in cyberspace in the context of international security’. This group was set up following the UN General Assembly resolution 73/266.

The UK government welcomes the outcome of the GGE. We reaffirm a shared commitment to uphold international law, which is an essential and binding element of the framework for a state’s activity in cyberspace. It applies to a state’s behaviour in cyberspace in the same way that it applies to activities in any other domain. We encourage all countries to share their national positions on how existing international law applies to states’ behaviour in cyberspace.

Published 3 June 2021