Arms Control in the Cyber Domain: A European Approach to Mitigate Digital Threats

While it has become evident that hostile acts of cyber aggression are increasing, policy makers still struggle to fully comprehend the interconnected nature and potential threats of the digital realm. Against this background, this chapter analyses EU cybersecurity strategies and mechanisms from an arms control perspective. Several decisive elements of European cyber arms control have been identified, limiting and regulating the militarisation of the digital environment through traditional and non-traditional means of arms control mechanisms. These include mainly the limitation of potentially harmful programmes by enforcing standards and regulations as well as the restriction of malicious behaviour and intent in the form of sanctions. The chapter finds that the EU has effectively developed and implemented these instruments to successfully mitigating digital threats in a preventive and proactive fashion, indicating aspects of arms control and non-proliferation. The chapter also provides an outlook into the field of artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the EU is responsible for preventing the multifaceted risks and threats posed by AI.