Topic: Future of Cyber Warfare
Country: Dominican Republic
Delegate Name: Brent Palarz
School: Mattawan High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Dominican Republic position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
With about 37% of the population using the internet in the Dominican Republic, security from cyber attacks is not as much of a threat in the Dominican Republic as it is in the more developed countries. However, internet usage in the Dominican Republic has risen 16% from 2007 and is continuing to rise. With internet usage slowly but surely rising, cyber attacks will certainly become more of a concern as technology use increases and spreads in the Dominican Republic.
This ever-increasing threat of cyber attacks is not a problem to be taken lightly nor should perpetrators be treated as such. Using one's computer to hack and tamper with or sabotage another state, if performed by a state actor in times of peace is undoubtedly an act of terrorism. If the cyber attack is performed by a state actor during times of war or aggression, it can be seen as a military action. Finally, if the hacker is not a state actor and hacks into a nation's system, it can be considered a criminal act. The Dominican Republic believes that it is each nation's government's responsibility to protect their people and infrastructure from cyber attacks. When it is a state actor committing a cyber attack against another state, the Dominican Republic believes that the United Nations must intervene and decide sanctions against the perpetrating country. In the event that it is a non-state actor performing a cyber attack against a nation, the criminal's justice is at the state's discretion.
To conclude, the United Nations should intervene and work together when a cyber attack is deemed either a terrorist act or as military action against another state. While the Dominican Republic is not necessarily a technological wonder or of great risk of cyber attacks, it is strongly in support of uniting and fighting back at cyber attacks.
