The law of neutrality is widely considered a cornerstone of international law. Its object and purpose are the protection of the territorial sovereignty of neutral states as well as the prevention of the escalation of armed conflicts. Although the content of provisions characterizing the law of neutrality may raise some discussion, generally speaking, the application of the law of neutrality in the cyber domain has not been disputed.
The panel will explore emerging practice from the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war to assess how the law of neutrality is tested and challenged by cyber operations in support of Ukraine, information sharing by neutral states, foreign hacker activities or private sector contributions to Ukraine’s defence.