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LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Cyber Sovereignty: The Application of the Principle of Sovereign Equality of States in Cyberspace and its Impact on Human Rights

Cederlund, Tilda LU (2023) LAGF03 20232
Faculty of Law
Department of Law
Abstract (Swedish)
Uppsatsen siktar på att undersöka olika tolkningar av suveränitetsprincipens tillämpning på cyberoperationer som faller under trösklarna i våldsförbudet och non-interventionsprincipen. Vidare undersöks hur suveränitetsprincipens tillämpbarhet på dessa cyberoperationer kan påverka de mänskliga rättigheterna till yttrande- och åsiktsfrihet.

Suveränitetsprincipen blir särskilt relevant när en cyberoperation understiger de trösklar som finns i våldsförbudet och i principen om non-intervention. För att tydligt redogöra för problematiken som uppstår genom otydligheterna kring principen om statssuveränitet i cyberrymden kommer uppsatsen att belysa den med ett exempel på en cyber operation som kan anses understiga båda trösklarna.

Två... (More)
Uppsatsen siktar på att undersöka olika tolkningar av suveränitetsprincipens tillämpning på cyberoperationer som faller under trösklarna i våldsförbudet och non-interventionsprincipen. Vidare undersöks hur suveränitetsprincipens tillämpbarhet på dessa cyberoperationer kan påverka de mänskliga rättigheterna till yttrande- och åsiktsfrihet.

Suveränitetsprincipen blir särskilt relevant när en cyberoperation understiger de trösklar som finns i våldsförbudet och i principen om non-intervention. För att tydligt redogöra för problematiken som uppstår genom otydligheterna kring principen om statssuveränitet i cyberrymden kommer uppsatsen att belysa den med ett exempel på en cyber operation som kan anses understiga båda trösklarna.

Två motsatta tolkningar av suveränitetsprincipens applicering i cyberrymden presenteras. Å ena sidan kan tolkningen göras att principen är bindande för stater och att ett övertramp av suveränitetsprincipen i cyberrymden kan utgöra en internationellt felaktig handling. Å andra sidan kan en möjlig tolkning vara att principen snarare är en guide för stater i dess agerande i cyberrymden och att den således inte är bindande för stater.

Avslutningsvis går uppsatsen in på en analys av den problematik som presenterats i uppsatsen. Genom att applicera båda tolkningarna av suveränitetsprincipen i cyberrymden på det exempel som redogjorts för tydliggörs vilka svåra konsekvenser dessa kan få på två grundläggande mänskliga rättigheter.
Uppsatsen kommer fram till att principen om statssuveränitet är applicerbar i cyberrymden men att det finns osämja i doktrin angående vad begreppet ’applicerbar’ innebär. På grund av de svåra konsekvenser de olika tolkningarna av principen kan få för mänskliga rättigheter är det positivt att flera stater har börjat offentliggöra sina ståndpunkter gällande folkrättens tillämpning i cyberrymden. Det hade eventuellt varit fördelaktigt om det framtogs ett mer generellt accepterat regelverk samt vidare forskning på området. (Less)
Abstract
The purpose of the essay is to examine different interpretations of the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on cyber operations which fall below the thresholds of the principle of non-intervention and the prohibition of the use of force. The essay also investigates how the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on these actions in cyberspace can affect the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.

The principle of sovereignty is particularly relevant when a cyber operation fails to reach the thresholds of a prohibited intervention or a use of force. To demonstrate the problematic nature of the uncertainty surrounding the principle of sovereignty in cyberspace, this essay will give an example of a situation which... (More)
The purpose of the essay is to examine different interpretations of the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on cyber operations which fall below the thresholds of the principle of non-intervention and the prohibition of the use of force. The essay also investigates how the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on these actions in cyberspace can affect the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.

The principle of sovereignty is particularly relevant when a cyber operation fails to reach the thresholds of a prohibited intervention or a use of force. To demonstrate the problematic nature of the uncertainty surrounding the principle of sovereignty in cyberspace, this essay will give an example of a situation which could be interpreted as falling short of both the aforementioned thresholds. Two opposing views of the applicability of the principle of sovereignty in cyberspace will be presented. Some scholars draw the conclusion that the principle is an independent rule of international law and that a breach of the principle can therefore be an internationally wrongful act and entail state responsibility. On the other side of the argument there are scholars who view the principle as an important guide for state’s actions in cyberspace, however not binding for states.

The essay will conclude in an analysis of the problems presented above. The consequences to the human rights to freedom of expression and opinion will be demonstrated by applying both interpretations of the principle of sovereignty to the example presented in the essay. The essay reaches the conclusion that the principle of sovereignty is applicable in cyberspace, however that there is still disagreement in legal doctrine regarding what the applicability entails. Because of the harsh consequences the different interpretations of the principle of sovereignty can have on the human rights to freedom of expression and opinion, it is positive that states have started publicising their own interpretations of the applicability of international law in cyberspace. It could however be beneficial with more generally accepted regulations on the area of cyberspace as well as further research on international law in cyberspace. (Less)
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author
Cederlund, Tilda LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20232
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Folkrätt, Public international law, Cyber Security, Cyber operations
language
English
id
9142768
date added to LUP
2024-02-02 12:03:06
date last changed
2024-02-02 12:03:06
@misc{9142768,
  abstract     = {{The purpose of the essay is to examine different interpretations of the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on cyber operations which fall below the thresholds of the principle of non-intervention and the prohibition of the use of force. The essay also investigates how the applicability of the principle of sovereignty on these actions in cyberspace can affect the rights to freedom of expression and opinion.

The principle of sovereignty is particularly relevant when a cyber operation fails to reach the thresholds of a prohibited intervention or a use of force. To demonstrate the problematic nature of the uncertainty surrounding the principle of sovereignty in cyberspace, this essay will give an example of a situation which could be interpreted as falling short of both the aforementioned thresholds. Two opposing views of the applicability of the principle of sovereignty in cyberspace will be presented. Some scholars draw the conclusion that the principle is an independent rule of international law and that a breach of the principle can therefore be an internationally wrongful act and entail state responsibility. On the other side of the argument there are scholars who view the principle as an important guide for state’s actions in cyberspace, however not binding for states.

The essay will conclude in an analysis of the problems presented above. The consequences to the human rights to freedom of expression and opinion will be demonstrated by applying both interpretations of the principle of sovereignty to the example presented in the essay. The essay reaches the conclusion that the principle of sovereignty is applicable in cyberspace, however that there is still disagreement in legal doctrine regarding what the applicability entails. Because of the harsh consequences the different interpretations of the principle of sovereignty can have on the human rights to freedom of expression and opinion, it is positive that states have started publicising their own interpretations of the applicability of international law in cyberspace. It could however be beneficial with more generally accepted regulations on the area of cyberspace as well as further research on international law in cyberspace.}},
  author       = {{Cederlund, Tilda}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Cyber Sovereignty: The Application of the Principle of Sovereign Equality of States in Cyberspace and its Impact on Human Rights}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}