United Nations
The UN is an international intergovernmental organization born in 1945 for the promotion of international cooperation, directly involved in the maintenance of peace and international security, the development of friendly relations among nations and the promotion of social progression, better life conditions and Human Rights. The UN has working groups fully dedicated to the study of ICT problems such as the Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) on Advancing Responsible State behavior in cyberspace in the context of international security (responsible for the applicability of international law to cyberspace) and the Open-Ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security. These groups, together with other activities and resolutions of the General Assembly, promote an ICT environment aligned with the principles of the UN.
ICT Strategy (A/69/517)
https://www.un.org/webcast/pdfs/ICTtownhall-feb2015.pdf
This document contains a review (originally requested by the UNGA) on the UN strategy for the ICT environment, aiming to provide a unified vision for Member States.
Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/72/327)
UNGGE report on UNGA resolution 70/237 regarding ICT developments in relation to international security.
Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/70/174)
UNGGE report on the development of ICT in relation to international security. It contains specific sections regarding the rules for States’ responsible behavior on the web and the applicability of international law in the ICT field.
Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/68/98)
UNGGE report on ICT developments relating to international security. It contains recommendations on the States’ standards for responsible behavior online, CBMs, capacity-building and information exchanges.
Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/65/201)
UNGGE report on ICT developments relating to international security. The document stresses the importance of cooperation measures and recommends actions to reduce the risk of misunderstandings due to the incorrect use of ICT.
Report of the Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security (A/60/202)
UNGGE report on ICT developments relating to international security with reference to resolution 58/32 of December 2003.
Report of the Secretary-General: Strengthening the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, in particular its technical cooperation capacity
https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/a_res_57/153e.pdf
Report which followed UNGA Resolution 56/123 on crime prevention through international cooperation.
Report of the Secretary-General: Effective measures to prevent and control computer-related crime
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/crime/commissions/11comm/8e.pdf
Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice’s report on the current state of cybercrime efforts. The document highlights current trends, developments and work to be undertaken by the UN to hinder it.
Report of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights: The right to privacy in the digital age (A/HRC/27/37)
https://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/DigitalAge/Pages/ReportDigitalAge.aspx
https://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf
Report on the protection and promotion of the right to privacy in cyberspace, with reference to personal data.
Study on the Effects of New Information Technologies on the Abuse and Exploitation of Children
https://www.unodc.org/documents/commissions/CCPCJ/CCPCJ_Sessions/CCPCJ_23/E-CN15-2014-CRP1_E.pdf
https://www.unodc.org/documents/Cybercrime/Study_on_the_Effects.pdf
Study carried out by UN internal entities on the effects of ICT relating to children exploitation and abuse.
Comprehensive Study on Cybercrime
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/organized-crime/comprehensive-study-on-cybercrime.html
https://www.unodc.org/documents/organized-crime/UNODC_CCPCJ_EG.4_2013/CYBERCRIME_STUDY_210213.pdf
Comprehensive study on cybercrime drafted following UNGA resolution 67/189. The document is divided into 12 topics.
Compendium on the High Level Review of United Nations Sanctions
http://www.hlr-unsanctions.org/
https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/2015/432
Compendium reviewing UN sanction’s systems. It also considers ICT-related cases such as cybercrimes.
The Mapping of International Internet Public Policy Issues
https://unctad.org/meetings/en/SessionalDocuments/CSTD_2014_Mapping_Internet_en.pdf
A 2014 document highlighting the major problems arising from the pervasive use of the internet in 7 areas.
Countering the Use of the Internet for Terrorist Purposes - Legal and Technical Aspects, Working Group Compendium
Detailed guide on how to counter terrorists’ threats and use of ICTs. The document provides guidelines on how to develop new strategies through examples from the best legislations in force today.
Resolutions and Reports on Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security
https://www.un.org/disarmament/ict-security/
Set of resolutions and reports adopted by the UN concerning ICT security in an international context from 1998 to today.
Resolution on the right to privacy in the digital age (A/RES/68/167)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/68/167
UN resolution reaffirming the right to online privacy, reiterating that it is treated equally as if offline.
Resolution on the Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity and taking stock of national efforts to protect critical information infrastructures (A/RES/64/211)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/64/211
UN resolution, with annex, indicating criteria for monitoring international efforts to protect critical information infrastructures.
Resolution on the Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity and the protection of critical information infrastructures (A/RES/58/199)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/58/199
UN resolution, with annex, indicating criteria for developing risk mitigation strategies for critical information infrastructures.
Resolution on the Creation of a global culture of cybersecurity (A/RES/57/239)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/57/239
UN resolution, with annex, indicating to Member States the criteria necessary to develop a culture of cybersecurity and an education in the use of ICT.
Resolution on combating the criminal misuse of information technologies (A/RES/56/121)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/56/121
UN resolution indicating a series of measures to be taken to combat the incorrect and criminal use of ICT.
Resolution on combating the criminal misuse of information technologies (A/RES/55/63)
https://undocs.org/A/RES/55/63
UN resolution indicating certain CBMs to be undertaken to combat the incorrect and criminal use of ICTs including: exchange of information, cooperation between law enforcement agencies and targeted training.
Annual Cyber Stability Conference
https://unidir.org/projects/annual-cyber-stability-conference-2
Annual conference with the participation of multiple stakeholders discussing measures needed to create a safe and stable ICT environment.
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum
https://www.itu.int/net/wsis/implementation/index.html
https://www.itu.int/net4/wsis/forum/2019/
Conference providing an international platform for facilitating the implementation of WSIS Action Lines and discussion on the role of ICT for the achievement of SDGs.
UN Groups of Governmental Experts on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security (2004-2017)
https://www.un.org/disarmament/ict-security
Series of meetings held since 2004 with the aim of gathering the views of Member States regarding information security.
Open-Ended Intergovernmental Expert Group (IEG) to conduct a Comprehensive Study on the Problem of Cybercrime
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/cybercrime/egm-on-cybercrime/meetings.html
Series of conferences held since 2011 with the aim of evaluating methods for national and international collaboration to fight cybercrime.
Arria-Formula Meeting on Threats to Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts (Cybersecurity)
Conference involving participants from the public and private sector aiming at discussing the risks to international peace and security due to terrorist acts using ICTs.
United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of ICTs in the context of international security
https://www.un.org/disarmament/open-ended-working-group/
https://undocs.org/A/RES/73/27
Working group created following UN resolution 73/27 of December 2018, open to all States, with the aim of evaluating the developments of ICT in relation to international security.
UN Group of Governmental Experts on advancing responsible State behavior in cyberspace in the context of international security (UN GGE)
https://www.un.org/disarmament/group-of-governmental-experts/
Group created following UN resolution 73/266 of December 2018 with the aim of investigating States’ responsible behavior in cyberspace, with a scheduled final report by 2021.
Secretary-General’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation
https://www.un.org/en/digital-cooperation-panel/
https://digitalcooperation.org/
UNSG Panel with the aim of advancing a multi-stakeholder dialogue on the realization of digital technologies potential while mitigating their risks.
"Combatting Cybercrime: Tools and Capacity Building for Emerging Economies" Toolkit
http://www.combattingcybercrime.org/
Toolkit aiming to help legislators and all actors interested in the fight against cybercrime with 3 types of resources: a toolkit, an assessment tool and a virtual library.
Global Cybersecurity Index
https://www.itu-ilibrary.org/science-and-technology/global-cybersecurity-index-2017_pub/80f875fa-en
5 levels analysis (legal measures, technical measures, organizations, capacity building and cooperation) on several States’ cybersecurity policies.
Digital Blue Helmets Programme
Peacekeeping program constituting the fundamental platform for UN cyber-defense.
Global Programme on Cybercrime
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/cybercrime/global-programme-cybercrime.html
https://sherloc.unodc.org/cld/v3/cybrepo/
Program established by UNGA resolution 65/230 with the aim of increasing effectiveness in the fight against cybercrime, through coordination between States, the creation of effective legal frameworks and by strengthening communication between stakeholders.
United Nations Group on Cybercrime and Cybersecurity
https://www.unsystem.org/content/action-cybersecuritycybercrime
UN group with the aim of strengthening internal collaboration within UN departments in the fight against cybercrime.
International Security Cyber Issues Workshop Series
Series of workshops aiming at promoting the creation of common ground between governments, academic and technological environments on instances of the digital world.
Private Sector Engagement in Responding to the Use of the Internet and ICT for Terrorist Purposes: Strengthening Dialogue and Building Trust
https://www.un.org/sc/ctc/focus-areas/information-and-communication-technologies/
Cooperation between UN and private sector actors identifying a series of voluntary rules to limit the phenomenon of cyber-terrorism.
United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
https://www.un.org/disarmament/ict-security
UN department with the aim of creating rules for disarmament. In the ICT sector, it promotes a peaceful environment, recognizing the possible risks to stability that may derive from this area.
International Telecommunications Union
https://www.itu.int/en/action/cybersecurity/Pages/default.aspx
Organization responsible for the facilitation and promotion of international communication standards. Its mandate includes responsibilities in the ITC sector for cybersecurity.
United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research
https://unidir.org/programmes/security-and-technology
https://unidir.org/about/the-institute
UN internal institution for the promotion of disarmament. It is also interested in the ITC sector by carrying out researches and increasing awareness on the risks deriving from these technologies.
United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime
https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/cybercrime/index.html
UN internal institute specialized in criminal justice systems, by also carrying out researches and analysis on cybercrimes.
Office of Information and Communications Technology (OICT)
https://unite.un.org/information-security
UN internal office for the supervision ICT related programs.