Topic: Militarization of the Internet
Country: Argentina
Delegate Name: Colin Murphy
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Argentina position papers GLIMUN 2013 committees
The internet has become the most useful tool for accessing information and it use by billions of people around the world. It has also become a medium of terrorism and war through cyberattacks and cyberwarfare. Argentina is against cyberwarfare, for we do not believe in spying and infiltrated other countries by force. Incidents like the NSA scandals conducted by the United States and Stuxnet are to be considered as acts of terrorism and espionage, and these acts deliberately violate international law. Cyberattacks are a “use of force” and any state that receives these attacks has the right to defend themselves at all costs. Victims of such attacks can lose irreplaceable information. Cyberattacks can destroy economies, leak confidential information, and topple countries. Cyberattacks should be treated like terrorist attacks and should have the same repercussions. Cyberattacks, if done properly, can be one of the most effective and disastrous form of terrorism, for it instills fear in people that they are never safe. Nations that are vulnerable or subject to cyberwar must increase their level of defense. If any state is unable to reach a level safe enough for defense against cyberattacks, then it is the job of the UN to help these states to reach that level.
States that conduct cyberattacks against other states should have grave consequences, since these attacks should be considered acts of terrorism. Consequences will be lifted if these cyberattacks are targeted at terrorist groups and have the intention of trying to shut the groups down. This is a rare case and can only be carried if the server attacked is undoubtedly one of an individual of group conducting acts of terrorism. If cyberattacks originate within a state’s territory, states should receive little repercussions but would have the responsibility of finding out who created the attack and stopping the individual, or group. The UN could help these states in pinpointing and stopping these terrorist groups from doing any more harm.
