The Hybrid Battlefield of Fibre Optic Communication Cables
Hovedinnhold
Submarine fibre optic cables are one of the most critical infrastructures of our time, carrying more than 95% of all electronic communications. This makes them a focal point for hybrid threats, both as a conduit for cyber-attacks etc. and as a target for sabotage. The conference will explore how fibre optic cables are or can be subject to legal measures to protect national security.
The first part of the conference sets the scene by introducing the concept of hybrid threats and the critical importance of fibre optic communication cables.
The second part focuses on how to protect submarine cables from sabotage. It will explore the possibilities and limitations under international and national law, in particular outside the maritime territories. Recent events in the Baltic Sea will be used as an example.
The third part focuses on the bulk interception of communication cables, which has become an important tool for intelligence services. It will examine how national legislation in the Nordic countries, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland has evolved in the interplay between national security interests and human rights, in particular the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.
Program:
Registration and introduction
09:00 - 09:30 Registration and coffee.
09:30 - 09:40 Introduction to the conference.
l) Introduction: Communication Cables as Targets and Conduits for Hybrid Threats
09:40 - 10:10 Hybrid threats: Concept and prevelance in the Nordic region by Professor Njord Wegge (Forsvarets Høgskole, Oslo).
10:10 - 10:40 The importance of vulnerability of communication cables by Professor Olav Lysne (Simula, Oslo).
10:40 - 11:00 Coffee break.
ll) Protection of Submarine Cables under International and National Law
11:00 - 11:30 The protection of Submarine Telecommunication Cables under International Law by Ass. Prof. Youri van Logchem (UiT, The arctic University of Norway).
11:30 - 12:00 The scope and potential of criminal law jurisdiction beyond territorial waters by Professor Birgit Feldtmann (Aalborg University).
12:00 - 12:30 Enforcement of international and domestic law to protect cables in the Baltic Sea by Dr. Alexander Lott (UiT, The Arctic University of Norway).
12:30 - 13:00 Panel Discussion.
13:00 - 14:00 Lunch.
lll) Bulk Interception of Communication Cables and the Limits of Human Rights
14:00 - 14:40 The Nordic bulk interception regimes and the impact if the evolving case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) Professor Erling Johannes Husabø (University of Bergen).
14:40 - 15:10 The Dutch bulk interception regime and the impact of ECtHR case law by Professor Jan-Jaap Oerlemans (University of Leiden).
15:10 - 15:20 Coffee Break.
15:20 - 15:50 The German bulk interception regime and the impact of the German Federal Constitutional Court by Dr. Thorsten Wetzling (Interface, Berlin).
15:50 - 16:20 The Swiss bulk interception regime and the impact of ECtHR case law by Dr. Armin Stähli (University of Zürich).
16:20 - 16:50 Panel Discussion.
16:50 - 17:00 Concluding remarks.
The conference will not be streamed. The chatham rules will be applied to the discussions.