TY - JOUR

T1 - Cyber-Attacks and Freedom of Expression

T2 - Coercion, Intimidation and Virtual Occupation

AU - Burton, J.

PY - 2019/9/30

Y1 - 2019/9/30

N2 - This article explores how cyber-attacks affect freedom of expression.It begins by outlining the literature on cyber coercion and exploringother conceptions of how offensive cyber operations have been usedto shape adversary behaviour, including efforts to intimidate throughcyberspace, and the concept of ‘cyber swaggering’. The articlemoves on to explore how cyber-attacks have been used to undermineelectoral process, to erode free and fair media reporting, and howmanipulation of social media can constitute a ‘virtual infiltration’and ‘virtual occupation’ of the information domain. The articlethen explores how cyber-attacks conducted during the conflict inUkraine have limited or otherwise affected freedom of expression.I argue that the wider effects of cyber operations on political, civiland human rights have been underexplored in the cyber securityliterature; that cyber-attacks have adversely affected freedom ofexpression in the conflict in Ukraine and in other political disputes;and that the coercion concept is ill-suited to accounting for the socio-psychological impact of modern cyber operations.

AB - This article explores how cyber-attacks affect freedom of expression.It begins by outlining the literature on cyber coercion and exploringother conceptions of how offensive cyber operations have been usedto shape adversary behaviour, including efforts to intimidate throughcyberspace, and the concept of ‘cyber swaggering’. The articlemoves on to explore how cyber-attacks have been used to undermineelectoral process, to erode free and fair media reporting, and howmanipulation of social media can constitute a ‘virtual infiltration’and ‘virtual occupation’ of the information domain. The articlethen explores how cyber-attacks conducted during the conflict inUkraine have limited or otherwise affected freedom of expression.I argue that the wider effects of cyber operations on political, civiland human rights have been underexplored in the cyber securityliterature; that cyber-attacks have adversely affected freedom ofexpression in the conflict in Ukraine and in other political disputes;and that the coercion concept is ill-suited to accounting for the socio-psychological impact of modern cyber operations.

KW - cyber coercion

KW - freedom of expression

KW - intimidation

KW - Ukraine

KW - virtual occupation

U2 - 10.1515/bjes-2019-0025

DO - 10.1515/bjes-2019-0025

M3 - Journal article

VL - 9

JO - Baltic Journal of European Studies

JF - Baltic Journal of European Studies

SN - 2228-0588

IS - 3

M1 - 28

ER -