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Influence Operations in Cyberspace and the Applicability of International Law
This enlightening book examines the use of online influence operations by foreign actors, and the extent to which these violate international law. It looks at key recent examples such as the 2016 UK EU Referendum, the 2016 American Presidential Election, and the 2017 French Presidential Election. The book analyses the core elements of interventions and sovereignty, and the extent to which these elements were violated in the three central case studies.
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Critical Acclaim
Contents
More Information
This enlightening book examines the use of online influence operations by foreign actors, and the extent to which these violate international law. It looks at key recent examples such as the 2016 UK EU Referendum, the 2016 American Presidential Election, and the 2017 French Presidential Election.
Applying existing international law to the new cyberspace domain fuels the discourse on how states interpret international law, which increases legal ambiguity. This book contributes to this discourse by analysing the core elements of interventions and sovereignty, including territorial integrity and political independence, and the extent to which these elements were violated in the three central case studies. It concludes by reflecting on the future of influence operations in cyberspace and providing instruments and tools to better define when and how international law has been violated.
Providing insights into the use of coercion and manipulation in influence operations, this book will be crucial reading for students and scholars in information and media law, internet and technology law, and public international law. It will also be beneficial for cyberspace experts and policymakers in international law and governance.
Applying existing international law to the new cyberspace domain fuels the discourse on how states interpret international law, which increases legal ambiguity. This book contributes to this discourse by analysing the core elements of interventions and sovereignty, including territorial integrity and political independence, and the extent to which these elements were violated in the three central case studies. It concludes by reflecting on the future of influence operations in cyberspace and providing instruments and tools to better define when and how international law has been violated.
Providing insights into the use of coercion and manipulation in influence operations, this book will be crucial reading for students and scholars in information and media law, internet and technology law, and public international law. It will also be beneficial for cyberspace experts and policymakers in international law and governance.
Critical Acclaim
‘Peter Pijpers has dug deep into the question of influence operations in cyberspace, which are politically abhorred but often do not break any major laws – neither domestically nor internationally. Zooming in on international law Pijpers warns about a lack of legal clarity that creates a legal grey zone that malign States eagerly exploit. His solution to this problem is a well-argued plea to reconceptualise coercion in cyberspace and draw a line in the sand.’
– Dennis Broeders, Leiden University, the Netherlands
‘Professor Pijpers combines a unique combination of a legal and a strategic framework to assess the legality and the modus operandi of digital influence operations directed against political systems. The legal framework involves non-intervention and sovereignty. The strategic framework offers valuable insight into the use of state power to persuade, coerce or manipulate foreign audiences.’
– Paul Ducheine, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
– Dennis Broeders, Leiden University, the Netherlands
‘Professor Pijpers combines a unique combination of a legal and a strategic framework to assess the legality and the modus operandi of digital influence operations directed against political systems. The legal framework involves non-intervention and sovereignty. The strategic framework offers valuable insight into the use of state power to persuade, coerce or manipulate foreign audiences.’
– Paul Ducheine, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Contents
Contents: Preface 1. Introduction to Influence Operations in Cyberspace 2. Influence operations – the concept 3. On influence operations – the case studies 4. Sovereignty and non-intervention – the legal framework 5. Legal analysis 6. Conclusions and reflections on Influence Operations in Cyberspace Index
