Cyber Law and Cyberwarfare

Abstract

Cybersecurity is an intrinsic part of human security and is inalienable from daily human lives. Cybercrimes are on the rise and have increased exponentially over the past few years. Cybersecurity has become a multifaceted issue, and mere unilateral action will not suffice to meet cybersecurity needs of various stakeholders. The increased dependency on networks (local networks as well as the internet), sharing of information in the Cyber domain and their inherent vulnerabilities that surface on a daily basis, lack of mutual consent between nation-states on effective control of operations in the Cyber domain, and Cyber laws has brought a new type of threat: Cyberwarfare. The concept and definition of the term Cyberwarfare is an interesting and never-ending debate. Laws of Armed Conflict (LOAC) cannot be applied as it is for the cyber domain as not every attack can be treated as an act of war. Many countries and non-state actors are not only involved in Cybercrimes, Cyber Espionage, and Cyber Reconnaissance; they are effectively creating offensive Cyberwarfare capabilities and engaging in Cyberattacks with increasing rates.