A/70/174 8. Different levels of capacity for ICT security among States can increase vulnerability in an interconnected world. III. Norms, rules and principles for the responsible behaviour of States 9. The ICT environment offers both opportunities and challenges to the international community in determining how norms, rules and principles can apply to State conduct of ICT-related activities. One objective is to identify further voluntary, non-binding norms for responsible State behaviour and to strengthen common understandings to increase stability and security in the global ICT environment. 10. Voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour can reduce risks to international peace, security and stability. Accordingly, norms do not seek to limit or prohibit action that is otherwise consistent with international law. Norms reflect the expectations of the international community, set standards for responsible State behaviour and allow the international community to assess the activities and intentions of States. Norms can help to prevent conflict in the ICT environment and contribute to its peaceful use to enable the full realization of ICTs to increase global social and economic development. 11. Previous reports of the Group reflected an emerging consensus on responsible State behaviour in the security and use of ICTs derived from existing international norms and commitments. The task before the present Group was to continue to study, with a view to promoting common understandings, norms of responsible State behaviour, determine where existing norms may be formulated for application to the ICT environment, encourage greater acceptance of norms and identify where additional norms that take into account the complexity and unique attributes of ICTs may need to be developed. 12. The Group noted the proposal of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan for an international code of conduct for information security (see A/69/723). 13. Taking into account existing and emerging threats, risks and vulnerabilities, and building upon the assessments and recommendations contained in the 2010 and 2013 reports of the previous Groups, the present Group offers the following recommendations for consideration by States for voluntary, non -binding norms, rules or principles of responsible behaviour of States aimed at promoting an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful ICT environment: (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 acknowledged to be harmful or that may pose threats to international peace and security; (b) In case of ICT incidents, States should consider all relevant information, including the larger context of the event, the challenges of attribution in the ICT environment and the nature and extent of the consequences; 15-12404 7/17