Topic: Future of Cyber Warfare
Country: Iran
Delegate Name: Matt DeCamp
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Iran position papers GLIMUN 2012 committees
Cyber warfare is becoming increasingly more enticing as more and more things are becoming modernized, so enticing that some countries, such as the United States, cannot stay away from it. If a cyber attack was to take place, our entire electrical grid could be shut down causing catastrophic results. Cyber attacks need to be seen as criminal acts because they are a danger to everyone. If we continue to allow these types of things to go unpunished, who knows what will happen next.
Recently the United States launched a cyber attack against Iran led by a virus called Stuxnet, in which they shut down a facility of ours for days. This was detrimental to our economy as it allowed no work to be done in this very large factory. Stuxnet also “accidentally” crashed an Indian satellite that was used for important communications. Cyber warfare should not be taken lightly because it is a very real threat that every nation faces. More recently there has been a new cyber "super weapon" being created that is known as "flame". This virus is so complicated that no hacker could have created it. It needed funding from somewhere, and we have discovered intel that suggests the United States is the creator. This virus is able to turn computers on and off, and access their files, cameras, and microphones. Spying is an act of war and I would like to know how this is any different. There have been many computers in Middle Eastern countries, including Iran that have had this virus found on them. If we continue to let cyber attacks go on unchecked then there is no telling what the U.S. will do next.
We would like to see the United Nations criminalize the use of cyber attacks, and any nation discovered to be using or developing a virus that could aid in cyber attacks be reprimanded severely. No one should live in fear in their own home, it is unjust to allow these cyber attacks to continue and we trust that the UN will make the right decision.
