The Rocky Road to Consensus: The Work of UN Groups of Governmental Experts in the Field of ICTs and in the Context of International Security, 1998-2013

In July 2013, a Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) working under the direction of the Main Committee of the United Nations General Assembly responsible for Disarmament and International Security (First Committee) presented a consensus report to the UN secretary-general on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security. For many, the report, which builds on earlier GGE sessions and reports, marked a considerable step forward. Initial attempts at framing efforts on this within an arms control and disarmament process had met with strong resistance. Now, following some 15 years of (often tense) discussion and debate, states had reached agreement on the applicability of international law and existing norms and principles such as state sovereignty in cyberspace. The report also marked an important breakthrough in considering a number of voluntary confidence-building measures aimed at reducing risk and avoiding potential escalation because of misperceptions of the actions of others; in recognizing that international assistance and capacity-building are imperative to supporting efforts to reduce risk and enhance trust; and in bearing in mind that civil society, academia, and the private sector have an important role in supporting these efforts. This article discusses the background to the 2013 GGE report and its outcome, as well as next steps and future challenges member states face in this area.