Photo By Sarah Loicano | Senior Policy Advisor Kimberley Raleigh, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of...... read more read more
During week two of the Program on Cyber Security Studies, participants heard from a leading U.S. cybersecurity policy expert who shared how the international community is working to establish expectations for responsible state behavior in cyberspace.
Senior Policy Advisor Kimberley Raleigh, U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, brought years of legal, academic, and diplomatic experience to the conversation. She has helped shape U.S. cyber policy, represented the country at the UN, and teaches cybersecurity law at top U.S. universities. Her talk provided a behind-the-scenes look at how cyber norms are debated, defined, and agreed upon on the world stage.
She explained that over the last two decades, countries have come together at the UN to discuss and make recommendations on principles for responsible behavior in cyberspace.
Through two major processes — the Groups of Governmental Experts and the Open-Ended Working Groups — nations have built a voluntary framework focused on international law, norms for responsible state behavior, and confidence-building measures to reduce the risk of conflict.
While the framework is voluntary, it has been unanimously supported by all 193 UN member states year after year.
Raleigh stressed that the pressing challenge is choosing a path forward on cyber that supports and furthers implementation of the framework. With the current UN cyber working group ending in July, countries are now debating whether to create a permanent forum to keep these conversations going.
Raleigh said the next step is not just talking about cyber norms, but helping countries put them into action. While there is a will to implement, scarce resources and the need for capacity building have meant that the discussions in New York do not necessarily translate to action in capitals around the world.
Raleigh flagged the competing proposals for future dialogue in the UN, including a “programme of action” supported by 161 UN member states, and a concept paper for a legally binding multilateral UN treaty proposed by the Russian Federation.
Speaking of Russia’s proposed convention, she pointed to the consensus already within the UN that existing international law provides binding obligations that regulate the conduct among states.
“In 2013, UN experts agreed that international law does apply in cyberspace,” she said. “That was a big deal—it means we are not operating in a legal vacuum.”
However, for many states the work of understanding how international law applies in cyberspace remains. Launching a treaty process before fully exploring how existing international law applies and what new rules, if any, may be required, Raleigh said, would be a costly waste of resources.
Her presentation matched the mission of the PCSS program, which brings together cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, and military leaders from around the world. The course gives participants the tools to develop national strategies, collaborate across borders, and tackle shared cybersecurity challenges with a broader understanding of the global picture.
“Our goal at the Marshall Center is to turn shared challenges into shared solutions,” said German Army Lt. Col. Arne Lossmann, PCSS course director. “PCSS helps global leaders move from understanding cyber risks to shaping real-world strategies that strengthen national and international security. As today’s speaker emphasized, building a stable and secure cyberspace takes more than dialogue; it requires sustained cooperation across borders.”
With expert speakers like Raleigh, the PCSS program continues to serve as a trusted platform where leaders can exchange insights, build partnerships, and shape the future of global cyber stability.
| Date Taken: | 05.06.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 05.20.2025 08:43 |
| Story ID: | 498309 |
| Location: | BAYERN, DE |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Week 2: Global Cyber Norms Take Center Stage, by Sarah Loicano, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
