'The Challenges of International Law-Making for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies'

On 12 December 2023, Dr Antonio Coco and Dr Meagan Wong (University of Essex) organized and co-hosted the Modern Law Review seminar on 'The Challenges of International Law-Making for the Use of Information and Communication Technologies', thanks to funding from the Modern Law Review Seminar Grant and the Essex Law School Research Environment Support Fund. The event was part of the activities of Essex Law School’s Public International Law Research Cluster. (photo 1)

The seminar provided an opportunity to delve into the complexities of making and shaping international law concerning the use and governance of information and communication technologies, especially in cyberspace. Participants explored regional initiatives, multistakeholder approaches, and processes such as the Tallinn Manuals and the Oxford Process on International Law Protections in Cyberspace. (photo 2)

In the first panel, chaired by Dr Christiane Ahlborn (Trinity College Dublin), Dr Fan Yang (Xiamen University) presented models for recognizing unlawful cyber operations, with comments from Professor Russell Buchan (University of Reading). Josephine Sangaré (University of Glasgow) then discussed the vital role of transparency in law-making and public-private partnerships, with comments from H.E. Ambassador Jongin Bae (Republic of Korea). (photo 3)

The second panel, chaired by Dr Meagan Wong, featured Dr Aliki Semertzi (Geneva Graduate Institute) comparing emotions leading to the governance of Artificial Intelligence and nuclear power, with feedback from Dr Christiane Ahlborn. Dr Niccolò Lanzoni (University of Bologna) explored the normative authority of the Tallinn Manuals, with input from Professor Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne (University of Bristol). (photo 4)

In the third panel, chaired by Dr So Yeon Kim (University of Essex), Dr Antonio Coco took stock of multistakeholder initiatives to clarify international law (e.g., the Oxford Process), with input from Professor Lawrence Hill-Cawthorne. Ayako Hatano (University of Oxford) shared her research on frameworks for hate speech moderation, with feedback from Dr Meagan Wong. (photo 5)

For more information about the event, please contact Dr Antonio Coco at antonio.coco@essex.ac.uk.