Non-Paper on Efforts to Implement Norms of Responsible
State Behaviour in Cyberspace, as Agreed in UN Group of
Government Expert Reports of 2010, 2013 and 2015.
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland,
September 2019
Executive summary
In this non-paper, the United Kingdom aims to share our approach to the 11 norms
of responsible state behaviour that were part of the 2015 Group of Government
Experts (GGE) report, and endorsed by the General Assembly.
These agreed, voluntary and non-binding norms build on GGE reports in 2010 and
2013 and form a key part of establishing how international law applies in cyberspace,
and the United Kingdom is setting out our approach to help encourage transparency,
sharing of best practice, and increase mutual understanding.
The United Kingdom recognises cyberspace as a fundamental element of securing
critical national and international infrastructure and an essential foundation for
economic and social activity online. Actual and potential threats posed by activities in
cyberspace continue to be of great concern.
This paper details some of the practical steps we have taken to implement the
voluntary, non-binding norms recommended in previous GGE reports and endorsed
by the UN General Assembly in 2010, 2013 and 2015. Whilst we continue to support
and reinforce the application of international law in cyberspace, the activity set out in
this paper is UK best practice and is not evidence of state practice with regard to the
emergence of customary international law. We have included both steps we have
taken domestically, and information as to how we have coordinated, cooperated and
built capacity internationally.