The School of Law is continuing to build on its outreach efforts to governments around the world with “International Law in the Cyber Era: Finding Balance between State Interests and Individual Rights”, a new course sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and co-directed by the Law School’s Professor Mike Schmitt.  The pilot offering of the course ran from 2-10 February 2021 for government officials throughout Southeast Asia. It joins the “International Law of Cyber Operations” program for government officials, which was offered 12 times around the world last year, in being certified as Executive Education by the University of Reading School of Law. The new “Finding Balance” course focuses on international human rights law and other aspects of international law that afford individuals and private entities protection in cyberspace.  Key topics include freedom of expression and the right to privacy online, the role of business in safeguarding human rights, and protecting civilians from harmful cyber operations during armed conflict.  The School’s Executive Courses in cyber affairs are sponsored by the Netherlands, Australia, Singapore, and United States, often in cooperation with regional organisations like the Organization of American States and Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. This year, Canada joins as a major sponsor of the programmes.

Professor Michael Schmitt (Law) is among the experts speaking at US Cyber Command’s annual legal conference, reports Lawfare.