Cracking the Hacktivism Code: A Study of the Challenges and the Lack of a Coordinated Global Response

Abstract

The research has explored hacktivism in the context of today’s globalised world, aiming to provide an analysis of the phenomenon and highlight the lack of a coordinated global response, and the challenges in the broader context of cyberspace. It has then examined the origins of the Internet and its developments, the transition from the military to the civil sphere and the issue of its governance, emphasising the multistakeholder component. Afterwards, it has discussed the historical origins of hacktivism, its methodologies and ethics, providing examples of some of the most famous groups. From the examination of all the regulations concerning hacktivism, the findings have revealed the absence of specific laws for this phenomenon. They have also highlighted the different degrees of regulations via the analysis of the legal approach in four States. Following this, the research has explored international organisations such as NATO and the UN, as well as the Budapest Convention and the Tallinn Manual, highlighting the limitations of these frameworks. The investigation has concluded by delving into the challenges arising from the lack of a coordinated global response to hacktivism: the issue of anonymity, state accountability and responsibility (with reference to the cyber-attacks on Estonia in 2007), and jurisdiction in cyberspace. It has also identified state-sponsored hacktivism as a growing cybersecurity threat with significant geopolitical implications, with reference to the case involving Sony and North Korea in 2014. The conclusion has focused on the growing instability in cyberspace, resulting in the need for a greater international collaboration and multistakeholder approach to address the challenges posed by hacktivism.