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the main cyber powers agree on these conceptual rules. A treaty will not be
established until sufficient CBMs exist. For the first stage, a CoC will have
more advantages, and more countries will adhere to this than a treaty.
Treaties which regulate international relations could also be applied in cyber
space. Even if there are no rules, the international community and important
countries could adapt existing rules from International Law where they do
not have an answer for cyber space, and here it is very important to have a
CoC. Moreover, a CoC will increase bilateral and multilateral cooperation. At
the moment, it is more important to have bilateral agreements and certain
rules of behavior, at least at this level, if not at regional and international
levels. When a country is developing a cyber-security strategy, it should take
into account and have a discussion with neighbouring countries, to be able to
have a secure cyber and outer space.
Another recent example of a CoC is the International Code of Conduct for
Private Security Service Providers (ICoC). “On 9 November 2010, 58 private
security companies met to sign an ICoC in which they pledged to respect
human rights in their activities and to comply with international humanitarian
law. The multi-stakeholder initiative for this document, the first of its kind,
was launched jointly by Switzerland and supported by private security
companies, as well as various industry associations, government customers,
humanitarian and civil society organisations. The Code of Conduct for
Private Security Service Providers aims to set industry principles and
standards based on international human rights and humanitarian law, as well
as to improve the transparency and responsibility of the industry. By
December 2013, around 600 security companies had signed the ICoC with
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continuing industry support and more companies continuing to sign”.
Conclusion
This essay looks at cyber threats as a means to influence and affect space
systems. A Code of Conduct could possibly impose non-binding “sanctions”
on countries, non-state actors or name individuals if they use this domain for
malicious purposes. According to International Law, offensive initiators
could be charged and punished for these actions.
The private sector is the one that owns and operates the greater part of the
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worldwide networks and services that forms cyberspace, and most of the
times is not present or engaged in the discussions related with a CoC.
106 | Awaiting Launch: Perspectives on the Draft ICoC for Outer Space Activities