2026/05/07 by Anja-Liisa Gonsior, Helene Pleil, Christian Reuter · 1 voice
Computer Science · Social Sciences · #Cybersecurity and Cyber Warfare Studies #European and Russian Geopolitical Military Strategies #Information and Cyber Security
paper · doi:10.1080/23738871.2026.2665269
openalex publication_date 2026/05/07 · openalex created_date 2026/05/08 · openalex updated_date 2026/06/18
Given the rising global prevalence of cyberattacks, cyber operations are being deployed with greater frequency in military settings. Despite rapid technological developments and associated threats, there is currently no binding international regulatory framework or agreement in place. It is frequently questioned whether the mechanisms of classic arms control (AC) can be adapted to the realities of cyberspace. In the field of AC, the regulation of chemical weapons represents a highly successful AC regime, effectively addressing various challenges. This paper employs an exploratory approach to address the challenges of AC for chemical and cyber weapons, highlighting both similarities and differences, drawing on expert interviews (n = 14), which are discussed in an interdisciplinary manner from the perspectives of political science and computer science. This study examines how prospective cyber-AC could potentially benefit from insights gained from past experiences. Our findings lay explorative conceptual groundwork, suggesting that AC in cyberspace could be achieved by adopting a broad definition of cyber weapons, shifting the focus from regulating technology to regulating contexts of use. Regarding soft law approaches, more attention could be paid to domain-specific mechanisms, such as an attribution mechanism. Furthermore, any prospective regulation must consider current standards, political will and diverse technical approaches.