NationStates

Digital Network Defense
A Resolution to improve world security by boosting police and military budgets

Category: International Security | Mild | Proposed by: Excidium Planetis

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The World Assembly

Recognizing the importance of digital devices in many nations, and the potential threats they pose in day to day life, especially in terrorist operations,

Seeking to prevent the occurrence of crimes committed on digital devices, and secure such devices for safe use by both military and civilian users,

Defines, for the purposes of this resolution,

• "digital device" as any artificial equipment that utilizes information in numerical form.
• "network" as any group of digital devices which are connected to allow the transmission and receiving of numerical information between devices in the group.
• "cyberattack" as any act of unlawful access to or alteration of numerical information stored on digital devices. For the purposes of cooperation with other WA legislation, such acts are to be considered acts of violence.

Encourages nations which possess digital devices to assist in securing such devices against cyberattacks;

Requires nations to make a reasonable effort to secure networks against the threat of cyberattacks;

Prohibits member nations from engaging in cyberattacks themselves, with the exception that member nations may utilize cyberattacks against networks belonging to foreign combatants with which they are in conflict, or against government networks of nations they reasonably suspect pose a real threat to their nation;

Mandates that nations establish cyberattacks as criminal offenses, and ensure individuals caught committing acts of cyberattack are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law;

Reserves the right of member nations to monitor networks for digital security threats, should national law allow them to do so.

"Was considering adding a clause allowing search and seizure of digital information, but the Mouth of the Dominion is already on that one."

We ought be able to spy on other nation's computer systems.

Excidium Planetis wrote:Defines, for the purposes of this resolution,

• "digital devices" as any artificial equipment that utilizes information in numerical form.
• "network" as any group of digital devices in which connections allow the transmission and receiving of numerical information.
• "cyberterrorism" as any act of unlawful access to or alteration of numerical information stored on digital devices, by a non-state actor. For the purposes of cooperation with other WA legislation, such acts are to be considered acts of violence.

"Make the provided alteration, and the Imperium will gladly support."

Defines, for the purposes of this resolution,
"digital devices" as any artificial equipment that utilizes information in numerical form.

OOC: Wouldn't that definition actually include some types of analogue devices, too?

Tinfect wrote:

Excidium Planetis wrote:Defines, for the purposes of this resolution,

• "digital devices" as any artificial equipment that utilizes information in numerical form.
• "network" as any group of digital devices in which connections allow the transmission and receiving of numerical information.
• "cyberterrorism" as any act of unlawful access to or alteration of numerical information stored on digital devices, by a non-state actor. For the purposes of cooperation with other WA legislation, such acts are to be considered acts of violence.

"Make the provided alteration, and the Imperium will gladly support."

"Absolutely not. Even if it is a state actor, unlawful attacks on data is still cyberterrorism. I should hope your government can at the very least comply with its own laws."

Bears Armed wrote:

Defines, for the purposes of this resolution,
"digital devices" as any artificial equipment that utilizes information in numerical form.

OOC: Wouldn't that definition actually include some types of analogue devices, too?

OOC:
No. Analog devices store information as physical properties that are continuously variable. Theoretically, there are an infinite number of values a property measured by an analog device could have, limited only by the device's accuracy.

You may think that such values could be considered numerical. This is not actually the case. Let's take a common analog device, a clock. There are numbers on the clock face, but the device does not store or record the nunbers on the face. Only the hands of the clock matter. Stripped of the numbers on the face, who is to say whether the clock indicates 6:30 or 12:00? One could try and measure the angular degrees, but they would need a starting point of reference, which can change, so you can't really say the hand is at 30° or 276°. Even if you did say it was 276°, how could you tell it was really 276° and not 276.09°? Those are different numbers.

So why are digital devices considered to have numerical information? For most digital devices we are familiar with, information is stored as binary code. By definition, there are only two values, which can be quantified as the numbers 1 and 0. Even quantum computers have only three possible values for each qubit: 1, 0, or a superposition of the two states. There is no continuously variable information, so numerical values can be assigned.

"As a nation without any commercial digital devices, why should we care?"

Could you define the act of cyber terrorism? It would be certainly worrying if this resolution were to prohibit us from utilising cyber warfare methods against our enemies.

"I have concerns regarding this clause:

Requires nations to make a reasonable effort to secure networks against the threat of cyberterrorism;

I read this as somewhat patronizing. What reasonable nation wouldn't make an effort to secure its networks against the threat of cyberterrorism? As far as Sciongrad is concerned, this clause implies that member nations lack the competence to take basic action without World Assembly direction. Although I could be wrong (that certainly wouldn't be a first). Is there some other reason for this clause that I've simply failed to pick up on?"

Wallenburg wrote:"As a nation without any commercial digital devices, why should we care?"

"No digital devices? At all? That's... rather sad." Cornelia Schultz says, imagining a world without any pocket calculators, digital watches, electronic scoreboards, etc.

"Wait, you said commercial digital devices? What about non-commercial devices?"

Celibrae wrote:Could you define the act of cyber terrorism?

"I don't understand... It is defined."

Sciongrad wrote:"I have concerns regarding this clause:

Requires nations to make a reasonable effort to secure networks against the threat of cyberterrorism;

I read this as somewhat patronizing. What reasonable nation wouldn't make an effort to secure its networks against the threat of cyberterrorism? As far as Sciongrad is concerned, this clause implies that member nations lack the competence to take basic action without World Assembly direction. Although I could be wrong (that certainly wouldn't be a first). Is there some other reason for this clause that I've simply failed to pick up on?"

"Networks as used here includes all networks, not just government ones. I may be wrong, but not all nations make reasonable efforts to ensure that private civilian networks are secured. I left it up to nations to decide what exactly they will do as a reasonable effort, but presumably this could include mandating minimum security standards for private companies that produce network-capable devices, monitoring of public networks, or some other solution that shows a reasonable effort to ensure that networks are secure."

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Wallenburg wrote:"As a nation without any commercial digital devices, why should we care?"

"No digital devices? At all? That's... rather sad." Cornelia Schultz says, imagining a world without any pocket calculators, digital watches, electronic scoreboards, etc.

"Wait, you said commercial digital devices? What about non-commercial devices?"

"I am not privy to my government's military secrets."

Wallenburg wrote:

Excidium Planetis wrote:"No digital devices? At all? That's... rather sad." Cornelia Schultz says, imagining a world without any pocket calculators, digital watches, electronic scoreboards, etc.

"Wait, you said commercial digital devices? What about non-commercial devices?"

"I am not privy to my government's military secrets."

"But they are. The proposal will affect them. And surely you can see the potential future necessity for this proposal in regards to your nation? Unless you plan on forever having to store information on paper or through analog devices."

"We disagree with the definition of 'Cyberterrorism' used. As it has the word terrorism, we would suggest altering the used definition to closer relate. Perhaps noting intentions to cause fear and political motivations and such. Otherwise, what you have is a definition of 'Cyber-attack."

Cybraxia wrote:"We disagree with the definition of 'Cyberterrorism' used. As it has the word terrorism, we would suggest altering the used definition to closer relate. Perhaps noting intentions to cause fear and political motivations and such. Otherwise, what you have is a definition of 'Cyber-attack."

"Why don't I just change the word to 'cyberattack'? After all, since it already considered an act of violence by the definition, if it is intended to cause fear or is politically or religiously motivated, it would then be terrorism according to existing WA legislation on the subject."

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Cybraxia wrote:"We disagree with the definition of 'Cyberterrorism' used. As it has the word terrorism, we would suggest altering the used definition to closer relate. Perhaps noting intentions to cause fear and political motivations and such. Otherwise, what you have is a definition of 'Cyber-attack."

"Why don't I just change the word to 'cyberattack'? After all, since it already considered an act of violence by the definition, if it is intended to cause fear or is politically or religiously motivated, it would then be terrorism according to existing WA legislation on the subject."

"This is acceptable."

Schultz reopens the door to this particular debate chamber.

"Come on people, I'd like more input on this."

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Wallenburg wrote:"I am not privy to my government's military secrets."

"But they are. The proposal will affect them. And surely you can see the potential future necessity for this proposal in regards to your nation? Unless you plan on forever having to store information on paper or through analog devices."

Ogenbond returns to the hall with a newspaper folded under his arm. An image of people falling out of an aircraft is printed on it. "Ah, hello there, Ambassador. It should please you that my office does not intend to oppose this proposal. However, I suggest you correct your grammar in the definition of digital devices. Subject-verb agreement is very important to the Wallenburgian delegation."

Wallenburg wrote:

Excidium Planetis wrote:
"But they are. The proposal will affect them. And surely you can see the potential future necessity for this proposal in regards to your nation? Unless you plan on forever having to store information on paper or through analog devices."

Ogenbond returns to the hall with a newspaper folded under his arm. An image of people falling out of an aircraft is printed on it. "Ah, hello there, Ambassador. It should please you that my office does not intend to oppose this proposal. However, I suggest you correct your grammar in the definition of digital devices. Subject-verb agreement is very important to the Wallenburgian delegation."

"Your lack of opposition is noted. Now, is the proposal better now?"

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Wallenburg wrote:Ogenbond returns to the hall with a newspaper folded under his arm. An image of people falling out of an aircraft is printed on it. "Ah, hello there, Ambassador. It should please you that my office does not intend to oppose this proposal. However, I suggest you correct your grammar in the definition of digital devices. Subject-verb agreement is very important to the Wallenburgian delegation."

"Your lack of opposition is noted. Now, is the proposal better now?"

"Indeed, it is. I see no further suggestions to make."

We ought be able to spy on other nations.

Imperium Anglorum wrote:We ought be able to spy on other nations.

"You can spy in times of war. Should I expand the exemption to allow spying on nations you are not at war with? That seems like it would allow rampant abuse."

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Imperium Anglorum wrote:We ought be able to spy on other nations.

"You can spy in times of war. Should I expand the exemption to allow spying on nations you are not at war with? That seems like it would allow rampant abuse."

Yes. Increasing the ability for nations to be able to effectively estimate the balance of power increases the amount of information available to all parties. This increases the stability of the international system.

Excidium Planetis wrote:

Imperium Anglorum wrote:We ought be able to spy on other nations.

"You can spy in times of war. Should I expand the exemption to allow spying on nations you are not at war with? That seems like it would allow rampant abuse."

Yes.

If you don't spy on a hostile nation, how can you determine if they are planning hostilities? Being able to spy during war isn't much help if the enemy starts the war with crippling attacks against a nations defensive and manufacturing infrastructure.

Imperium Anglorum wrote:

Excidium Planetis wrote:"You can spy in times of war. Should I expand the exemption to allow spying on nations you are not at war with? That seems like it would allow rampant abuse."

Yes. Increasing the ability for nations to be able to effectively estimate the balance of power increases the amount of information available to all parties. This increases the stability of the international system.

"It also allows nations to steal sensitive information from nations they are not enemies with, even from allies, and they could do so in compliance with WA law." Schultz replies. "I'd rather not allow nations to hack into our systems unless they are at war with us."

Dooom35796821595 wrote:

Excidium Planetis wrote:
"You can spy in times of war. Should I expand the exemption to allow spying on nations you are not at war with? That seems like it would allow rampant abuse."

Yes.

If you don't spy on a hostile nation, how can you determine if they are planning hostilities? Being able to spy during war isn't much help if the enemy starts the war with crippling attacks against a nations defensive and manufacturing infrastructure.

"Then use traditional methods of spying, like infiltration or observation. Not everything needs to be done by hacking."

So... only things in numerical form? So a system using "yes" instead of "1" and "no" instead of "0" in its computing, would be excempt? And that's even without touching the issue with quantum computers, which may add "maybe" to the list... Or, say, a system using colours. Or photons. Or any other system that isn't dependant on ones and zeros.

Araraukar wrote:So... only things in numerical form?

"Yes. Any device that doesn't use digits, by definition cannot be digital, obviously."

"So a system using "yes" instead of "1" and "no" instead of "0" in its computing, would be excempt?"

"No, not in the way you describe. Such yes/no data can be expressed in numerical form, as you just did in your example by assigning yes and no the values of one and zero, and therefore is a digital device. In contrast, a mercury thermometer is not a digital device, because its information is stored as the volume of mercury, which can only be approximated because the volume can take on an infinite number of possible values."

And that's even without touching the issue with quantum computers, which may add "maybe" to the list...

"Quantum computers are digital. Quantum computers have only three possible values for each qubit: 1, 0, or a superposition of the two states. There is no continuously variable information, so numerical values can be assigned."

Or, say, a system using colours. Or photons. Or any other system that isn't dependant on ones and zeros.

"Ambassador, you do know what digital devices are, yes? To my knowledge, none of them actually use ones and zeros to store data, because one and zero are abstract concepts that are assigned to real objects. Most Excidian digital devices store information using electrical charges in carbon circuits. Our quantum computers store information with the spin of elementary particles. You could have a device that keeps track of its information using a penguin named Steve, but as log as the data can be expressed in numerical form, then it is a digital device."