UAE pushes measures to promote cyber stability

new york — UAE emphasised the importance of implementing confidencebuilding measures and for member states that have experience in implementing existing cyber norms to share their lessons learned best practices in a UN Security Council meeting on cyber stability, capacity building and conflict prevention.

“Although the digital environment is increasingly being used for malicious activity, we should not lose sight of the enormous benefits that come with an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment,” Amiera Alhefeiti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, stressed.

Alhefeiti stated that the Middle East has not been immune to the risk posed by malicious cyber activity, noting that since 2012, the region has witnessed a number of disruptive attacks against oil and natural gas installations which have the potential to spark a conflict in an already tense environment.

In this regard, she said that Member States should comply with international law as applicable to promote cyber stability, although questions remain on how international law applies to State activity online, how best to implement existing norms, and whether new norms are required.

The UAE supports the work of the Open-Ended Working Group on ICTs and the 2019-2021 UN Group of Governmental Experts, GGEs, both of which are providing further guidance in this area. At the technical level, the UAE is exchanging information with regional organisations such as the Organisation for Islamic Cooperation and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Alhefeiti added that exchanging basic information reduces the risk of miscalculation, and opening channels of communication can provide help deescalate tensions resulting from misread signals and even malicious cyber activity.

Alhefeiti also underscored that although cyber stability measures between States are important, all stakeholders have a role in creating a trusted environment for everyone to thrive. —