Britain can respond to cyberattacks by hostile states by taking countermeasures including sanctions or “defensive” cyberattacks, the UK’s attorney general has said.
In a speech delivered at the Chatham House think tank on May 19, Suella Braverman said that international law should be applied to cyberspace to make it clear when a nation state has acted unlawfully and what action can be legally taken in response to a cyberattack.
She said that cyberspace is not a lawless “grey zone,” and international law “governs and plays a fundamental role in regulating cyberspace.”
She highlighted the need for “leadership and partnerships” between the UK and its partners to shape and strengthen international cyber governance, with the aim of promoting a “free, open, peaceful, and secure cyberspace.”…