This is a public event, organised by Politico. For registration click here.

In a year of political transition and in the context of increasing numbers of cyber-attacks by government-linked entities, the threat of cyber warfare is at the forefront of the international political agenda. G7 nations issued this year a joint declaration expressing concerns about “the risk of escalation and retaliation in cyberspace”. At the European level, the Council has agreed in June to develop a toolbox to respond to cyber attacks, while the European Commission has updated its Cybersecurity Strategy.

However, little public diplomacy has been done since the US-China deal of September 2015. Some argue that contrary to conventional warfare, cyber weapons fall mostly outside of existing international law and agreements and attacks are largely under-reported. Others believe that existing agreements already cover most of cyberspace but need to be strengthened and clarified. What is the right forum to tackle the risk of cyber warfare? What is the role of norms in cyber arms control? Cyber expert Sico van der Meer is one of the guest lecturers who shed their light on this topic.

This debate will be held in Oxford Union style: a competitive debate format featuring a sharply framed motion that is proposed by one side and opposed by another.