UN processes and institutions

As of 1 October 2026.

Much of the international law and policy in the cyber and information sphere is developed in UN intergovernmental processes rather than in treaties. In the First Committee track, Groups of Governmental Experts and Open-ended Working Groups have since 2010 adopted consensus reports that form the “framework of responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs”: applicability of international law, voluntary norms, confidence-building and capacity-building. Since March 2026 a permanent Global Mechanism continues this work. Autonomous weapons are discussed under the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and in the General Assembly. The General Assembly adopted the UN Convention against Cybercrime in 2024, and it and the Human Rights Council have adopted resolutions on privacy and on countering disinformation. The Global Digital Compact addresses digital cooperation and AI governance. The Security Council held its first formal open debate on cybersecurity on 29 June 2021.

• Binding or voluntary. Some States, including the Russian Federation, have proposed a legally binding instrument on international information security; many other States consider existing international law, complemented by voluntary norms, sufficient.
• Consensus. The Global Mechanism and the CCW operate by consensus, which is discussed in relation to both inclusiveness and pace.
• Stakeholders. The participation of industry, civil society and academia in intergovernmental processes is a recurring procedural question.
• Coherence. The division of work between the First Committee, Third Committee, Human Rights Council, CCW and Global Digital Compact processes is discussed.

• UN framework of responsible State behaviour in cyberspace – norms and the Global Mechanism.
• UN Charter – principles and organs.
• UN and CCW processes on autonomous weapons – CCW and General Assembly.
• UN Convention against Cybercrime (2024) – global cybercrime treaty.
• UN resolutions on countering disinformation – General Assembly and Human Rights Council.
• Global Digital Compact (2024) – digital cooperation and AI.
• Friendly Relations Declaration (1970) – Charter principles.
• National positions on international law in cyberspace – including the UN compendium.
• UN resolutions on AI in the military domain – General Assembly resolutions and informal exchanges on military AI.

• Use of force, intervention and cyber operations
• Cybersecurity, cybercrime and critical infrastructure
• Artificial intelligence and autonomous weapons
• Timeline · Glossary