ANNEX B
AUSTRALIAN IMPLEMENTATION OF NORMS OF RESPONSIBLE STATE BEHAVIOUR IN
CYBERSPACE
The international community – including the five permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security
Council (UNSC), and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) – have agreed a framework for responsible state
behaviour in cyberspace (the Framework). The Framework affirms the application of existing international
law to state conduct in cyberspace and articulates agreed norms of responsible state behaviour, while also
recognising the need for confidence building measures, and coordinated capacity building.
The 2010, 2013 and 2015 reports of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts (UNGGE) set out this
framework (A/65/201; A/68/98; A/70/174). The UNGA subsequently considered – and endorsed, by
consensus – the reports of the UNGGE (A/RES/65/41; A/RES/68/243; A/RES/70/237). Notably, in 2015, the
UNGA called on all UN Members states ‘To be guided in their use of information and communications
technologies by the [UNGGE’s] 2015 report’. Many regional groups and leaders meetings have subsequently
endorsed the UNGGE’s reports (including, but not limited to: G20 2015, ASEAN Leaders’ Statement 2018;
ASEAN Communications Ministers 2018; EAS Leaders Statement 2018; CHOGM Declaration 2018).
Given this repeated high-level endorsement, it is clear that the international community expects countries to
act consistently with the conclusions in the UNGGE reports. Australia reaffirms its commitment to act in
accordance with the cumulative UNGGE reports from 2010, 2013 and 2015 (A/65/201; A/68/98; A/70/174).
With the intent of deepening common understandings and thereby increasing predictability and stability, this
Fact Sheet contains a non-exhaustive list of the ways in which Australia observes the eleven norms in the
2015 UNGGE report. This Fact Sheet should be read in conjunction with the cumulative reports of the
UNGGE. Other resources include the International Security Chapter of Australia’s International Cyber
Engagement Strategy, Australia’s position on how international law applies to state conduct in cyberspace
(2017) as supplemented by the 2019 International Law Supplement, as well as information on Australia’s $34
million Cyber Cooperation Program.
Norm
(a) Consistent with the
purposes of the United
Nations, including to maintain
international peace and
security, States should
cooperate in developing and
applying measures to increase
stability and security in the
use of ICTs and to prevent ICT
practices that are
How Australia Observes the Norm
Australia engages bilaterally, regionally and multilaterally to develop and
apply measures to increase stability and security in the use of ICTs and to
prevent ICT practices that are harmful or that may pose threats to
international peace and security. A full overview of its activities can be found
in the International Security Chapter of the 2019 Progress Report on
implementation of Australia’s International Cyber Engagement Strategy.
Of particular note: at the UN, we are active participants of both the UN
Group of Governmental Experts (UNGGE) and UN Open Ended Working
www.dfat.gov.au/cyberaffairs
esafety.gov.au/parents