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UNITED NATIONS, Jan 15 (APP):Pakistan Tuesday underscored the need for developing a legal framework to address the implications of the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware for international peace and security,
“The unrestricted availability, proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware and related technologies by both state and non-state actors has emerged as an important concern,” Ambassador Usman Jadoon, Deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told an Arria-Formua meeting of the UN Security Council that was convened by the United States.
This format of Council’s meeting is named after a former Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN, Diego Arriva. It is a consultation process which affords members of the Security Council the opportunity to hear persons in an informal setting.
Expressing alarm over the unregulated military applications of cyberspace, covert information operations, exploitation of software and hardware vulnerabilities, Ambassador Jadoon said Pakistan stands for a global dialogue on this “urgent threat” to international peace and security
“The militarization of cyberspace, the development of offensive cyber capabilities by States, and the unchecked military applications of new and emerging technologies, are all contributing to these concerns,” the Pakistani envoy told the 15-member Council.
“In the absence of a global regulatory framework to ensure the responsible uses of cyberspace, these developments pose grave risk to international stability,” he said.
“We have witnessed firsthand the dangers posed by such technology when hostile actors were found using spyware tools to target our citizens, public figures and state entities.
“Such malicious actions are clearly in breach of global norms of responsible state behavior, and more importantly, a violation of the principles of UN Charter including the non-use of force, state sovereignty and non-interference in the internal affairs of States.”
While existing international law applies to cyberspace, Ambassador Jadoon said, certain gaps remain due to its distinctive nature.
“To address this, Pakistan has consistently supported the development of a legal framework. While norms are useful – primarily in peacetime – these cannot replace a legally binding instrument that imposes explicit obligations.”
In this regard, the Pakistani envoy proposed a legally-binding instrument, to be discussed and adopted through an inclusive UN process.
The proposed framework aims to:
— Prohibit ICT (Information and Communications Technology) activities that damage critical infrastructure, introduce harmful vulnerabilities, or compromise supply-chain security;
— Establish regulatory mechanisms to prevent the misuse of surveillance technologies, including spyware;
— Strengthen international cooperation to ensure equitable access to technology for peaceful purposes and enhance capacity-building efforts;
— Develop mechanisms for resolving issues such as attribution challenges and secure cross-border data exchange, and
— Promote confidence-building measures (CBMs) in cybersecurity to reduce misunderstandings and enhance regional and global stability.
Pakistan, he said, was committed to fostering international dialogue aimed at developing regulations and safeguards for a secure and stable digital environment for all nations to realize sustainable development.
“Pakistan stands ready to work with all Member States to promote global dialogue on this urgent threat to international peace and security and further discuss these important issues in relevant universal and inclusive fora,” Ambassador Usman added.