The United States is “seriously concerned” about the possible adoption by the UN General Assembly of a Russian resolution to combat cybercrime by December 25. This was stated by a representative of the State Department during a briefing.
“Obviously, Russia is interested in promoting its vision of what the Internet should be like in the future, and it links the problem of cybercrime with security and control issues in the field of digital technologies. Thus, Russia is interested in such an agreement that will give it exactly that control over the Internet space that it needs and which runs counter to fundamental American freedoms, ”the US Foreign Ministry said.
According to the representative of the State Department, the United States does not consider the adoption of such a document necessary, since there is already the Budapest Convention (Convention on Computer Crime, approved by the Council of Europe in 2001. - RT ).
“Of course, we are not satisfied with their (Russian colleagues. - RT ) proposal, because, based on the previous rhetoric, the previous resolutions adopted by them, their previous behavior, Russia wants to achieve isolation of information in the Internet space, that is, radically limit those freedoms that the United States fully supports and which in this space, according to our country, should be represented, and not limited, ”the State Department noted.
As the department emphasized, Washington cannot allow Russia to "impose its vision of the future Internet around the world."
"Now our primary goal is to do everything possible to counter the desire of Russia and make sure that the resolution will not be adopted," said a representative of the US State Department. According to him, it is necessary to explain to other countries that this document "in the form in which Russia proposes it is hostile to their interests, as well as to the well-being of democracies around the world."
However, if this resolution is nevertheless approved, Washington will decide on the "best answer."
“We will conduct an interagency process, during which we decide what our priorities are,” said the representative of the State Department.
- Session of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly
- Reuters
- © Eduardo Munoz
Takes into account modern realities
Earlier, at the end of October, Andrei Belousov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the World Organization in Geneva at a meeting of the first committee of the UN General Assembly, said that Russia was proposing to all countries to work out a single formula to combat cybercrime, but the United States was opposing this initiative.
Recall that Russia initiated a resolution that included the idea of developing a convention on the fight against the use of information technology for criminal purposes. In November, the document was approved by the third committee of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly - it was supported by 88 states, 58 opposed and 34 countries abstained.
“For the purposes of cooperation between law enforcement agencies of different countries, of course, the best way is to use a convention that would prescribe the channels of legal assistance and unify the elements of crimes, as well as reinforce the channels of interaction and applicable procedures,” explained Maria Permanent Representative of the UN Permanent Mission to Russia Zabolotskaya.
The draft document approved by the committee should be considered at the plenary meeting of the General Assembly by December 25.
Political scientist Alexander Asafov notes the importance of the Russian resolution.
“This document is the beginning of the formation of a regulation on the joint fight against threats. After all, cybercrimes know no boundaries and can be carried out remotely. This initiative of Russia is extremely important, since cyber attacks can ultimately disable vital infrastructure. Moreover, recently the issue has become even more urgent, because terrorists also have cyber weapons - the USA is not the exclusive owner of such technologies, ”the expert stated in an interview with RT.
This opinion is shared by the head of the department of international organizations and world political processes at the Faculty of World Politics of Moscow State University, Andrei Sidorov. According to him, the Russian concept is relevant, unlike the Budapest Convention, which is almost 20 years old.
“The 2001 document cannot take into account all the features of the modern world. In addition, the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime was not signed by Russia, as Article 32 on “cross-border access to stored computer data” does not suit Moscow. Moreover, the development of communications dictates the need to adapt international documents to modern realities. In this case, it is the Russian resolution that meets this requirement, ”the analyst said in an interview with RT, stressing that at the current stage, the United States“ will mobilize all forces ”so that the Russian resolution is not adopted.
“At the UN, Washington has a voice, as well as a sufficient number of levers of pressure on many states, especially the small countries of the Caribbean, on which they can influence so that the proposal from Russia is rejected. However, in general, the chances for passing the resolution are quite high, ”the expert predicted.
“The prosecution system”
According to analysts, the new groundless accusation of the United States against Russia is no longer surprising, since before that Washington has repeatedly stated the notorious “Russian threat”, and also reported cyber attacks from the Russian Federation.
Thus, the research service of the US Congress on the eve of the December NATO summit prepared a review in which it pointed out a security threat emanating from Russia.
“Consider whether the alliance should adopt a new strategic concept that more accurately reflects the views on the security threat that comes from Russia, as well as new and growing cyber and hybrid threats,” the research center suggests.
In May, the US Department of Defense published information about the grant, according to which the agency intends to obtain data on methods of "influence" of Russia on the inhabitants of the Indo-Pacific region. According to Washington, the Russian side allegedly “misleads” others through the media, social networks, and cyber tools. Based on this information, the Pentagon plans to develop its military strategies.
And in September, during the second annual national conference on cybersecurity, the head of the Pentagon, Mark Esper, stated that the Russian Federation considers cyber war “as a way of counteracting the United States.”
As noted by Alexander Asafov, with his new statement, Washington is actively developing the already created myth that Russia intervenes in the sovereign affairs of other countries, in particular the United States, through cyber attacks.
“The US reaction to the Russian resolution is negative, because they do not want instruments for transparent monitoring and joint activities to combat cyber attacks. Indeed, in this case, the States will not be able to blame Russia without any grounds for the presence of cyber threats on its part and attacks. Accordingly, Washington will lose arguments for its satellites and NATO partners why Russia is bad, ”the expert said.
At the same time, Asafov emphasized that it is easiest to put forward the charges of cyber attacks, since it’s “easy to fake” information about this kind of interference.
“Such measures leave only digital traces. However, often the American side does not even bother to back up its accusatory theses with the appropriate texture, ”said the expert.
- globallookpress.com
- © FrankHoermann / SVEN SIMON
In addition, according to Asafov, the American side has created a whole "system of accusations" of other countries of meddling in US sovereign affairs and hostile actions.
At the same time, Andrei Sidorov emphasizes that the United States has never been able to prove its accusations against Russia.
“In order to blame the country, it is necessary to prove that the attacks were carried out with the filing or on the orders of state authorities, which the United States could not do,” the expert noted.
“They live in the ideology of a unipolar world”
According to analysts, the American side is opposed to the proposal of the Russian Federation, because it fears the limitations of its destructive actions in cyberspace.
Recall that in the Estonian city of Tartu, located near the Russian borders, in early December, large-scale cyber missions of the North Atlantic Alliance Cyber Coalition started. This was reported by the Supreme Allied High Command in Europe on his Facebook page. According to the agency, these are the “largest exercises” of the bloc, which are conducted under the leadership of the Supreme High Command for Transformation - 27 NATO countries and partner states of the alliance are participating in them. During the maneuvers, it was planned to play a cyber attack scenario that was close to reality.
At the same time, back in March of this year, the Russian Security Council announced that "the United States and its NATO partners are paying serious attention to active actions in cyberspace and gaining total control over this area." This was announced in an interview with the newspaper of the Armed Forces of Russia "Red Star" by Deputy Secretary of the Security Council of Russia Mikhail Popov.
“The NATO Strategic Communications Center in Riga and the united center of excellence in the field of cyber defense in Tallinn, created by the alliance, are aimed at waging a large-scale information war. The main task of these structures is to disable computer networks of critical facilities and the infrastructure of a potential adversary - as you know, primarily Russia, ”said Popov.
Recall that the NATO cyber center began its work in the Estonian capital in 2008. To date, representatives of 25 countries are constantly participating in the work of the cyber center.
The United States would not want documents to be adopted that would subsequently create a system of international law that imposes certain restrictions, including on their “illegal activities” in cyberspace, says Andrei Sidorov.
“The United States continues to follow the slogan“ we will write the rules, ”respectively, the initiatives that Washington stands for are the only right ones for them,” the expert noted.
- NATO Locked Shields cyber arms in Estonia, April 2019
- Reuters
- © Ints Kalnins
According to Alexander Asafov, the United States is the only country that "carried out cyber attacks for destructive purposes."
“In this way, Washington wanted to damage Iran’s infrastructure. There are also expert assessments, according to which the American side used its cyber weapons in Venezuela, ”said the analyst.
At the same time, Asafov stressed that the United States "will prevent the adoption of any joint documents and treaties that regulate the investigation of cybercrime and create a code of non-use of cyber weapons."
“After all, Washington believes that this is a tool that should remain exclusively in their hands,” the expert explained.
According to Asafov, the position enshrined in the defense concept of the United States suggests that in this country "they live in the ideology of a unipolar world."
“Under this concept, the United States alone has the right to make decisions and take cyber sentences. However, the United States mistakenly considers itself a global policeman, ”the analyst concluded.