The formation of the legal basis for international information security within the UN-format: stages and outcomes

The article presents the main milestones of the UN's 25-year effort to create an international information security system (IISS). The subject of the study includes the activities of both universal and specialized UN platforms, where discussions on IISS issues take place, as well as an analysis of the key agreements reached in this area, including those related to the «triad» of the most prominent security threats associated with ICT. Special attention is given to the diplomatic efforts of the Russian Federation to promote «equal, open, and peaceful» interaction among international law subjects in the information space. Additionally, the article examines the disagreements between Russia and the United States regarding IISS issues. The study uses a dialectical approach to the analysis of international relations. It employs a number of general scientific methods such as induction and deduction, analysis, and generalization. It also utilizes branch methods of humanitarian research, including the study of global processes, such as formal legal analysis, situational analysis, content analysis. Conclusions: 1) It is possible to minimize the threats associated with the negative impact of ICT on the national information space and the world as a whole by consolidating the efforts of all participants in information exchange, with the leading role played by states and national governments. The United Nations is one of the most suitable platforms for this purpose, although it is not the only one. 2) Relations arising in the field of safe use of ICT are only partially regulated by current principles and norms of international law at the level of general prohibitions. 3) The main obstacle to developing uniform standards in the area of information security is the inability to reach consensus on issues such as prohibition of military and political use of ICT, attribution of cyberattacks, interpretation of information security terms.

International Information Security, Information and communication technologies (ICT), UN, Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG), responsible behavior, cyberspace, International Telecommunication Union (ITU), international law, discussion, global information space