The US and information and telecommunications in the context of international security: which implications for the ius ad bellum?

This post analyses the 2014 US position paper submitted before the fourth GEEs, which was not, however, completely embraced by the other experts in their 2015 final report. This paper is in any case relevant as it is possible to derive from it important conclusions regarding the US opinio iuris on some aspects of the ius ad bellum, in particular the law of self-defence. This post aims at highlighting such implications and is structured as follows. First, it will analyse the issue of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security as it has been dealt with within the UN; then, it will focus on the US position paper. it will conclude that, when it comes to the notion of ‘armed attack,’ the US Administration might have a broader understanding than the international community as a whole, to such an extent as to include any violation of article 2(4) UN Charter.