Description
The US government has engaged in international cyber norm efforts over the last two decades. This includes international efforts such as the UN's Group of Governmental Experts, the later emerging UN Open-Ended Working Group, work with allies in the Tallinn Manuals, and domestic strategy outlined by US departments. The construction of international cyber norms is significantly varied, with disagreements raised to the US over digital sovereignty, the role of private industry, and appropriate defensive measures. The manner in which cyber norms are constructed is also highly contested, from other nations and between US domestic departments. Throughout US cyber norm efforts, however, is the notion of responsibility. Responsibility is used to refer to and condemn irresponsible cyber activity, to apply culpability for acts of cyber aggression, and to promote proactive cyber defence operations the US deems to be responsible. Responsibility therefore provides a conceptual lens, consistent in cyber norm promotion, through which to examine how the US government constructs cyber norms. I intend to examine how responsibility is used by the US government to construct a vision of responsible international cyber conduct and how responsibility is used to advance and promote this vision internationally.
