A/RES/77/37 GA

United Nations A/RES/77/37 General Assembly Distr.: General 12 December 2022 22-28102 (E) 151222 *2228102* Seventy-seventh session Agenda item 94 Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 7 December 2022 [on the report of the First Committee (A/77/380, para. 11)] 77/37. Programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security The General Assembly, Recalling its resolutions 43/78 H of 7 December 1988, 53/70 of 4 December 1998, 54/49 of 1 December 1999, 55/28 of 20 November 2000, 56/19 of 29 November 2001, 57/53 of 22 November 2002, 58/32 of 8 December 2003, 59/61 of 3 December 2004, 60/45 of 8 December 2005, 61/54 of 6 December 2006, 62/17 of 5 December 2007, 63/37 of 2 December 2008, 64/25 of 2 December 2009, 65/41 of 8 December 2010, 66/24 of 2 December 2011, 67/27 of 3 December 2012, 68/243 of 27 December 2013, 69/28 of 2 December 2014, 70/237 of 23 December 2015, 71/28 of 5 December 2016, 73/27 of 5 December 2018, 73/266 of 22 December 2018, 74/28 and 74/29 of 12 December 2019, 75/32 of 7 December 2020, 75/240 of 31 December 2020 and 76/19 of 6 December 2021, Noting that considerable progress has been achieved in developing and applying the latest information technologies and means of telecommunication, Recognizing that the dissemination and use of information and communications technologies affect the interests of the entire global community and that broad international cooperation would lead to the most effective responses, Expressing concern that information technologies and means of telecommunication can potentially be used for purposes that are inconsistent with the objectives of maintaining international stability and security and may adversely affect the integrity of the infrastructure of States, to the detriment of their security in both civil and military fields, A/RES/77/37 Programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security 22-28102 2/4 Expressing concern also about malicious information and communications technology activities aimed at critical infrastructure and critical information infrastructure facilities supporting essential services to the public, Considering that it is necessary to prevent the use of information resources or technologies for criminal or terrorist purposes, Stressing that it is in the interest of all States to seek the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, and to promote the use of information and communications technologies for peaceful purposes and to prevent conflicts arising from the use of information and communications technologies, Underlining the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the use of information and communications technologies, Highlighting the necessity of bridging digital divides, building resilience in every society and sector, and maintaining a human-centric approach, Recalling the assessments and recommendations of the 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2021 groups of governmental experts, as well as those of the 2021 Open-ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and Telecommunications in the Context of International Security, 1 and the first annual progress report of the open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025, 2 in particular the cumulative and evolving framework for responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies elaborated by these processes, Calling upon Member States to be guided in their use of information and communications technologies by the 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2021 reports of the Group of Governmental Experts and the 2021 report of the Open-ended Working Group, Recalling the conclusion of the above-mentioned reports that international law, and in particular the Charter of the United Nations, is applicable and essential to maintaining peace and stability and promoting an open, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful information and communications technology environment, Reaffirming that voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies can reduce risks to international peace, security and stability, and do not seek to limit or prohibit action that is otherwise consistent with international law but nonetheless to set standards for responsible State behaviour, while also reaffirming that, given the unique attributes of information and communications technologies, additional norms could be developed over time and, separately, noting the possibility of future elaboration of additional binding obligations, if appropriate, Recalling that confidence-building measures in the field of information and communications technology security can contribute to preventing conflicts, avoiding misperceptions, misunderstandings and the reduction of tensions, and that regional and subregional organizations have made significant efforts in developing confidence-building measures, Supporting the open-ended working group 2021–2025, and further encouraging it to take into account the outcomes of the previous Open-ended Working Group and the groups of governmental experts and add to the efforts undertaken by them, Underlining the complementarity of the proposal for a programme of action with the work of the current open-ended working group 2021–2025, __________________ 1 See A/65/201, A/68/98, A/70/174, A/75/816 and A/76/135. 2 See A/77/275. Programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security A/RES/77/37 3/4 22-28102 Reaffirming that any future mechanism for regular institutional dialogue under the auspices of the United Nations should be an action-oriented process with specific objectives, building on previous outcomes, and be inclusive, transparent, consensus- driven and results-based, Recognizing the utility of exploring mechanisms dedicated to following up on the implementation of the agreed norms and rules as well as the development of further ones, Stressing the urgent need to assist States in their efforts to implement the framework for responsible State behaviour and tackle emerging threats in the information and communications technology environment, as the ever-evolving properties and characteristics of new and emerging technologies expand the attack surface, creating new vectors and vulnerabilities that can be exploited for malicious information and communications technology activity, Emphasizing that capacity-building is essential for cooperation of States and confidence-building in the field of information and communications technology security, and that capacity-building in relation to State use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security should be guided by the principles for capacity-building included the 2021 final report of the Open- ended Working Group, Reaffirming that the United Nations should continue to play a leading role in promoting dialogue on the use of information and communications technologies by States, Emphasizing the value of further strengthening collaboration, when appropriate, with civil society, the private sector, academia and the technical community, to strengthen security and stability in the information and communications technology environment, Encouraging States to, on a voluntary basis, survey or report on their national efforts to implement rules, norms and principles, including through the report of the Secretary-General on developments in the field of information and communications technologies in the context of international security as well as the National Survey of Implementation, Underlining the importance of narrowing the “gender digital divide” and of promoting the full, equal and meaningful participation and leadership of women in decision-making processes related to the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security, Welcoming the recommendation by the open-ended working group 2021–2025 in its first annual progress report that States engage in discussions on the scope, structure and content of the programme of action at the fourth and fifth substantive sessions of the open-ended working group, 1. Welcomes the proposal to establish a United Nations programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security, as a permanent, inclusive, action- oriented mechanism to discuss existing and potential threats; to support States’ capacities and efforts to implement and advance commitments to be guided by the framework for responsible State behaviour, which includes voluntary, non-binding norms for the application of international law to the use of information and communications technologies by States, confidence-building and capacity building measures, as affirmed in General Assembly resolution 76/19, the 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2021 reports of the groups of governmental experts, the 2021 report of the Open- ended Working Group on Developments in the Field of Information and A/RES/77/37 Programme of action to advance responsible State behaviour in the use of information and communications technologies in the context of international security 22-28102 4/4 Telecommunications in the Context of International Security and the first annual progress report of the open-ended working group on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021–2025; to discuss, and further develop if appropriate, this framework; to promote engagement and cooperation with relevant stakeholders; and to periodically review the progress made in the implementation of the programme of action as well as the programme’s future work; 2. Underlines that the programme of action is to take into account the consensus outcomes adopted by the open-ended working group 2021–2025; 3. Requests the Secretary-General, within existing resources and through voluntary contributions, to seek the views of Member States on the scope, structure and content for the programme of action, and the preparatory work and modalities for its establishment, including at an international conference, taking into account General Assembly resolution 76/19, the 2010, 2013, 2015 and 2021 consensus reports of the groups of governmental experts, the 2021 report of the Open-ended Working Group, the first annual progress report of the open-ended working group 2021–2025, the views and contributions submitted by Member States in the framework of the open-ended working group 2021–2025 and the regional consultations held in accordance with paragraph 4 of the present resolution, and to submit a report based on those views to the General Assembly at its seventy-eighth session and for further discussion between Member States in the meetings of the open-ended working group 2021–2025; 4. Requests the Office for Disarmament Affairs of the Secretariat, within existing resources and through voluntary contributions, to collaborate with relevant regional organizations whose members are also States Members of the United Nations to convene a series of consultations to share views on the programme of action; 5. Decides to include in the provisional agenda of its seventy-eighth session the item entitled “Developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security”. 46th plenary meeting 7 December 2022

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