An Unsatisfactory State of the Law: The Limited Options for a Corporation Dealing with Cyber Hostilities by State Actors

41 Pages Posted: 24 Jun 2016 Last revised: 26 Sep 2016

See all articles by Daniel Garrie

Daniel Garrie

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law; Law & Forensics

Shane Reeves

United States Military Academy, West Point

Date Written: June 1, 2016

Abstract

The rapidly increasing willingness of state actors to conduct hostile cyber operations against corporations has not gone unnoticed by governments, and, in particular, the United States. Corporations, for their part, overwhelmingly support government involvement in cyber issues. This mutual desire for a corporate-government partnership provides an opportunity to build an effective response to the cyber threat posed by state actors. Yet, corporations also must be cognizant that the present environment is woefully inadequate at providing the necessary cyber defense mechanisms needed to protect their businesses. This short-term need for protection coupled with the interest in a corporate-government partnership raises two questions. First, what can a corporation do to protect itself from state-sponsored cyber hostilities? Second, what are some possible models for a corporate-government partnership to address the threat in the future?

This Article addresses both of these questions by first outlining why it is difficult for a corporation to respond to state-sponsored cyber hostilities. Understanding this difficulty allows for the development of appropriate corporate responses to hostile state actors. An explanation of what the law allows a corporation to do in defense of its business interests will follow. As self-protection for business is only a partial solution, recommendations for enhancing the corporate-government partnership to blunt state actor cyber hostilities will also be offered. The Article concludes by reiterating the criticality of developing a comprehensive and coherent strategy for responding to this ever-growing threat.

Keywords: Cyber Warfare, Law of Armed Conflict, International Humanitarian Law, Law of War, State Responsibility, Corporations, Cyber Hostilities, Domestic Cyber Law, Corporate-Government Partnership, Cyber Space

JEL Classification: K00, K14, K22, K33

Suggested Citation

Garrie, Daniel and Garrie, Daniel and Reeves, Shane, An Unsatisfactory State of the Law: The Limited Options for a Corporation Dealing with Cyber Hostilities by State Actors (June 1, 2016). Cardozo Law Review, Vol. 37, No. 5, 2016, Cardozo Legal Studies Research Paper No. 495, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2799970

Daniel Garrie

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law ( email )

55 Fifth Ave.
New York, NY 10003
United States

Law & Forensics ( email )

6506 3rd Ave NW
Suite C
Seattle, WA 98117
United States
855 529 2466 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.lawandforensics.com

Shane Reeves (Contact Author)

United States Military Academy, West Point ( email )

600 Thayer Rd
West Point, NY 10996
United States

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