Governments could theoretically launch hostile attacks on another State’s critical infrastructure, such as its telecommunications system or key public services, or attempt to acquire sensitive information. Actors who are not governments may attempt to do the same thing.
The complex nature of cyberspace makes such incidents liable to produce misunderstandings, unforeseen crises or even conflicts in the future. Meanwhile, terrorists have and will continue to use it to plan attacks and flood chat rooms with their ideology to recruit their next generation.
The issues that the conference delegates will address will include:
- The mechanisms that could prevent or mitigate problems between states when it comes to cyber security.
- Lessons to be drawn from other areas of international security and conflict prevention work
- Appropriate principles of behaviour
- The most appropriate fora in taking this debate forward.