The number, scope, intensity and frequency of cyberattacks has increased exponentially and spectacularly over the past few years. Coupled with the recurrent political disinformation or radicalization campaigns run through online social media, or the potential misuse of commercially available technologies by terrorist groups, ‘cyber’ has become ever more critical as both an arena of, and a conduit to, individual and collective security and an increasingly contested ‘space’. Against this background, ‘cyber’ has become one of the most prominent agenda items for numerous international and regional organizations. This article clarifies key concepts and policy dilemmas in the ongoing debates, in particular on attribution and deterrence, and discusses how they impact the stability of the international system.
European Foreign Affairs Review