International Law of Cyber Operations Executive Course

International Law of Cyber Operations Executive Course, Cohort 7 (January–April 2025)

Registration for Cohort 7 is closed. Join the next global group of participants and master the fundamentals of applying international law in cyberspace by enrolling in Cohort 8 starting in May 2025. Registration opens on February 10th.

Why this course?

Master the fundamentals of international cyber law as you watch recorded lectures by the world's leading scholars in the field; meet with the instructors and fellow participants in live sessions; and complete the course with a University of Reading Executive Education certificate.

Hear from the Cyber Law International Academy team why you should take this course

FORMAT

Online. Complete the majority of the requirements on your own schedule over fourteen weeks. Log on at designated times for live sessions with faculty and fellow participants. Weekly average time commitment of 2 hours.
TARGET AUDIENCE

Government officials working in cyber affairs, including lawyers, diplomats, policy makers, cyber operators; staff of international organizations and NGOs; employees of technology companies; attorneys; international law scholars and students.
UPCOMING DATES

The next cohort will begin on 1 May 2025. Registration opens on 10 February.

Instructors

Michael Schmitt

Professor Michael Schmitt is the Director of Legal Affairs at Cyber Law International. He is also Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading, the G. Norman Distinguished Scholar at the Lieber Institute of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar and Visiting Professor of Law at the University of Texas, Charles H. Stockton Distinguished Scholar in Residence at the United States Naval War College’s Stockton Center for International Law, and Senior Fellow at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.

Marko Milanovic

Professor Marko Milanovic is of-counsel with Cyber Law International. He is also Professor of Public International Law at the University of Reading, Senior Fellow at the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, and co-editor of EJILTalk, the blog of the European Journal of International Law. Professor Milanovic has held visiting professorships at Michigan Law School, Columbia Law School, Deakin Law School, the University of the Philippines College of Law, and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. He has served as counsel and advisor in proceedings before the International Court of Justice, the European Court of Human Rights, and the Constitutional Court of Serbia.

Course Features

Expect all this and more from the leading University of Reading certified course in international cyber law. You will have fourteen weeks to complete the coursework. The sessions are split into two blocks, with each of the study periods ending with two live sessions with the faculty.

World-renowned faculty – learn from the leading experts in international cyber law
Independent learning – recorded lectures on topics ranging from sovereignty to the law of armed conflict, split into chunks and concluding with multiple choice tests for a self-paced and structured learning experience
Live sessions – meet with the professors twice for practical case study sessions as well as for two roundtable discussions
Complimentary e-copy of the Tallinn Manual 2.0 on the International Law of Cyber Operations (value 69.99 USD) – receive the key reference source in international cyber law
Certified by the University of Reading – upon successful completion of the course, receive an executive education certificate of completion
Community building – meet colleagues working in international cyber affairs from around the world

Course Curriculum

1. Course Overview and Requirements
  FREE PREVIEW
2. Frequently Asked Questions
  FREE PREVIEW
3. Your Tallinn Manual 2.0 E-Book
  FREE PREVIEW
4. Live Seminars Schedule
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
  FREE PREVIEW
2. Part 2: History of International Cyber Law
  FREE PREVIEW
3. Part 3: Debate on International Cyber Law at the United Nations
  FREE PREVIEW
4. Part 4: Sources of International Cyber Law
5. Part 5: Treaties as a Source of International Cyber Law
6. Part 6: Treaty Interpretation Rules
7. Part 7: Custom as a Source of International Cyber Law
8. Part 8: Crystallisation Versus Interpretation of Customary Cyber Law
9. Part 9: Subsidiary Sources of International Cyber Law
10. Part 10: Is "Soft Law" a Source of International Cyber Law?
11. Part 11: International Cyber Law, Summary
12. Part 12: Enforcement of International Cyber Law
13. Part 13: UN Groups of Governmental Experts & Open-Ended Working Groups
14. Part 14: Confidence-Building Measures for Cyberspace
15. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Definition of Sovereignty
3. Part 3: Is Cyberspace a Global Common?
4. Part 4: Does Sovereignty Apply in Cyberspace and If So, Who Must Respect It?
5. Part 5: When Do Cyber Operations Violate Sovereignty?
6. Part 6: Cyber Operations That Breach Territorial Integrity and Inviolability
7. Part 7: Cyber Operations That Breach Territorial Integrity and Inviolability, Examples
8. Part 8: Cyber Operations That Interfere With or Usurp Inherently Governmental Functions
9. Part 9: Sovereignty Violations in Cyberspace, Czech Republic Example
10. Part 10: Status of Sovereignty as a Rule of International Law in the Cyber Context
11. Part 11: Unsettled Issues
12. Part 12: Cyber Operations Against Sovereign Immune Platforms
13. Part 13: Derivative Principles
14. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Definition of the Due Diligence Obligation
3. Part 3: State Views on Due Diligence in the Cyber Context
4. Part 4: Due Diligence Principle Deconstructed
5. Part 5: Geography: Where Does a State Bear the Due Diligence Obligation?
6. Part 6: Threshold of Harm – What Effects Must the Target State Suffer?
7. Part 7: Threshold of Harm Cont’d – What Effects Must the Target State Suffer?
8. Part 8: Territorial State's Knowledge of Malicious Cyber Operations
9. Part 9: Conduct Required of a "Diligent" State – Temporal Factor
10. Part 10: Conduct Required of a "Diligent" State – Feasibility Factor
11. Part 11: Remaining Issues
12. Part 12: Policy Relevance of the Due Diligence Obligation in Cyberspace
13. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Legal Basis of the Non-Intervention Principle
3. Part 3: Does the Prohibition of Intervention Apply in Cyberspace?
4. Part 4: Why is the Prohibition Relevant in Cyberspace and Why Can It Be Difficult to Apply?
5. Part 5: Non-Intervention as an Inter-State Rule and Its Elements
6. Part 6: Definition of Internal or External Affairs
7. Part 7: Definition of Coercion
8. Part 8: Two Different Concepts of Coercion
9. Part 9: Examples of Coercive Cyber Operations?
10. Part 10: Failed Cyber Intervention? Threatened Cyber Intervention? Consensual Intervention?
11. Part 11: Was Stuxnet Prohibited Intervention?
12. Part 12: Interference in US 2016 Presidential Elections as Prohibited Intervention?
13. Part 13: Was Wannacry Prohibited Intervention?
14. Part 14: Final Thoughts
15. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Definition of Use of Force and the Prohibition’s Applicability to Cyber Operations
3. Part 3: Legal Bases for Lawfully Using (Cyber) Force
4. Part 4: Cyber Operations as Uses of Force
5. Part 5: Can Cyber Operations with Non-Physical Effects Amount to a Use of Force?
6. Part 6: Can an Unintentional Cyber Operation Qualify as a Use of Force?
7. Part 7: Threat of a Cyber Use of Force
8. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: State Views on the Applicability of the Law of State Responsibility in Cyberspace
3. Part 3: Law of State Responsibility in a Nutshell
4. Part 4: Definition of Internationally Wrongful (Cyber) Act
5. Part 5: Cyber Operations as Breaches of International Obligations
6. Part 6: Technical, Political and Legal Attribution
7. Part 7: Attribution of Cyber Operations – Basic Analytical Approach
8. Part 8: Attribution of Cyber Operations – State Organs and Entities Empowered by Law
9. Part 9: Attribution of Cyber Operations – Non-State Actors
10. Part 10: Attribution of Cyber Operations – Evidence
11. Part 11: Evidence of Cyber Operations – Public Accusations
12. Part 12: Evidence of Cyber Operations – Judicial Proceedings
13. Part 13: Evidence of Cyber Operations – Unilateral Self-Help
14. Part 14: Justifications for Breaching Legal Obligations in Cyberspace (Circumstances Precluding Wrongfulness)
15. Part 15: Consequences of Unlawful Cyber Operations
16. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Definition of Countermeasures
3. Part 3: Purpose of Cyber Countermeasures
4. Part 4: Types of (Cyber) Countermeasures and the Requirement of Proportionality
5. Part 5: Must an Injured State Notify the Responsible State Before Taking (Cyber) Countermeasures?
6. Part 6: Relationship Between the Use of Force Prohibition and Countermeasures
7. Part 7: Cyber Countermeasures That Bleed Over Into Third States
8. Part 8: Collective Cyber Countermeasures
9. Part 9: Countermeasures and Mistaken Attribution
10. Part 10: Plea of Necessity in Response to Cyber Operations
11. Part 11: Definition of the Plea of Necessity
12. Part 12: Limitations on the Plea of Necessity
13. Part 13: Distinguishing the Plea of Necessity from Countermeasures
14. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Does the Right of Self-Defence Apply in Cyberspace?
2. Part 2: Difference Between Cyber Use of Force and Cyber Armed Attack
3. Part 3: Definition of Cyber Armed Attack
4. Part 4: Examples of State Views on the Cyber Armed Attack Threshold
5. Part 5: Can the Effects of Cyber Operations Be Aggregated to Qualify as an Armed Attack?
6. Part 6: Who Can Conduct a Cyber Armed Attack?
7. Part 7: Engaging in Self-Defence Against a Non-State Actor Located in Another State
8. Part 8: Requirement of Necessity
9. Part 9: Anticipatory Self-Defence Against Cyber Armed Attack
10. Part 10: How Long After a Cyber Armed Attack is Self-Defence Available?
11. Part 11: Applying Imminence and Immediacy Principles in the Cyber Context
12. Part 12: Requirement of Proportionality
13. Part 13: Collective Self-Defence Against Cyber Armed Attacks
14. Part 14: Responses Against Cyber Operations That Do Not Amount to Armed Attacks
15. Test Your Knowledge
1. Office Hour with the Professor
1. Exercise I, Peacetime International Law
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Jurisdiction in Cyberspace - Definition and Scope
3. Part 3: Extending Established Jurisdictional Principles Into Cyberspace
4. Part 4: Types of Jurisdiction
5. Part 5: Prescriptive Jurisdiction – Territoriality Principle
6. Part 6: Prescriptive Jurisdiction – Territoriality and the Effects Doctrine
7. Part 7: Extraterritorial Prescriptive Jurisdiction
8. Part 8: Enforcement Jurisdiction – Challenges in the Cyber Context
9. Part 9: Legal Bases for Extraterritorial Enforcement Jurisdiction over Cyber Activities
10. Part 10: Judicial Jurisdiction over Cyber Activities
11. Part 11: Jurisdiction over Cyber Activities – Summary
12. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Relevance of IHL in Cyberspace
3. Part 3: Distinguishing IHL from UN Charter Law
4. Part 4: State Views on the Application of IHL in Cyberspace
5. Part 5: Classification of Cyber Conflict
6. Part 6: International Armed Conflict in Cyberspace
7. Part 7: International Armed Conflict and Proxy Actors in Cyberspace
8. Part 8: International Armed Conflict Involving Only Cyber Operations?
9. Part 9: Non-International Armed Conflict in Cyberspace
10. Part 10: Geography of IHL in Cyberspace
11. Part 11: Geography of IHL in Cyberspace – International Armed Conflict
12. Part 12: Remedies if Belligerents Conduct Cyber Operations from Neutral Territory
13. Part 13: Geography of IHL in Cyberspace – Non-International Armed Conflict
14. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: The Principle of Distinction in Cyber Warfare
2. Part 2: Definition of Cyber Attack
3. Part 3: Is a Non-Injurious, Non-Damaging Cyber Operation an Attack Under IHL?
4. Part 4: Examples of Cyber Attacks Under IHL
5. Part 5: Military Objectives in Cyberspace
6. Part 6: Is Dual-Use Cyber Infrastructure a Military Objective?
7. Part 7: Is Data an Object?
8. Part 8: State Views on Data as an Object
9. Part 9: Prohibition of Attacks Against Civilians
10. Part 10: Persons Who Are Lawful Cyber Attack Targets
11. Part 11: Prohibition of Indiscriminate Cyber Attacks
12. Part 12: Prohibition of Cyber Perfidy
13. Part 13: Proportionality
14. Part 14: Precautions in Cyber Attack
15. Part 15: Precautions Against the Effects of Cyber Attack
16. Part 16: Are Cyber Capabilities "Weapons"?
17. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: Does Human Rights Law Apply in Cyberspace?
3. Part 3: The International System of Human Rights Law in the Cyber Context
4. Part 4: Types of IHRL Obligations – Respect
5. Part 5: Types of IHRL Obligations – Protect
6. Part 6: Types of IHRL Obligations – Fulfil
7. Part 7: Has a State Violated a Cyber-Relevant Human Right?
8. Part 8: When May a State Derogate from Its Cyber-Relevant Human Rights Obligations?
9. Part 9: When May a State Limit Its Cyber-Relevant Human Rights Obligations?
10. Part 10: Limitations on Human Rights Online – Prescribed by Law Requirement
11. Part 11: Limitations on Human Rights Online – Legitimate Aim Requirement
12. Part 12: Limitations on Human Rights Online – Necessity and Proportionality Requirements
13. Part 13: Cyber-Relevant Human Rights
14. Part 14: Freedom of Expression Online
15. Part 15: Right to Privacy Online
16. Part 16: Online Surveillance and Privacy
17. Part 17: Cyber-Specific Human Rights?
18. Part 18: Do Non-State Actors Bear Human Rights Obligations in Cyberspace?
19. Test Your Knowledge
1. Part 1: Learning Objectives
2. Part 2: State Views on Peaceful Settlement of Cyber Disputes
3. Part 3: Cyber Disputes Endangering International Peace and Security
4. Part 4: Cyber Disputes Not Endangering International Peace and Security
5. Part 5: Definition of a Dispute
6. Part 6: Dispute Case Study – Myanmar and the Rohingya
7. Part 7: How Does Peaceful Settlement Affect Other Response Options?
8. Part 8: Means of Peaceful Settlement of Cyber Disputes
9. Part 9: Good Offices, Mediation and Conciliation as Means of Cyber Dispute Settlement
10. Part 10: Fact-Finding, Arbitration and Judicial Proceedings as Means of Cyber Dispute Settlement
11. Part 11: Peaceful Settlement Case Study – Australia and East Timor
12. Part 12: Settlement of Cyber Disputes With Non-State Actors
13. Test Your Knowledge
1. Office Hour with the Professor
1. Exercise II, Specialized Regimes of International Law
1. Part 1: Law's Response to Increased Reliance on Cyberspace
2. Part 2: Normative Evolution – Sovereignty
3. Part 3: Normative Evolution – Use of Force
4. Part 4: Normative Evolution – Self-Defence
5. Part 5: Normative Evolution – Jus in Bello
6. Part 6: Strategic Choices Regarding the Future of International Cyber Law
1. Course Survey

About This Course

200 lessons
14 weeks

Watch a sample lesson

Participant Testimonials

"The International Law of Cyber Operations Executive Course was exceptional, and I cannot recommend it highly enough. It was an absolute delight to participate in.

The creators of the course material and the professors delivering the lectures were clearly subject matter experts, and their expertise shone through in their ability to structure the course content and explain complex topics in a clear and concise manner. The lectures were engaging and provided valuable insights.

Overall, I highly recommend this course to anyone looking to gain knowledge and skills in the nascent field of International Cyber Law. It truly exceeded my expectations."

Vafa Izadinia, Head of Information Security, Global non-profit organization (Cohort 1)

• • •

"This short course really helped me gain a thorough understanding of international cyber law. As a participant with no legal background, it was extremely beneficial in my daily tasks in preparing cybersecurity policies for my country."

Shamzarina binti Abdul Razak, National Cyber Security Agency, Malaysia (Cohort 3)

• • •

"As a Military Officer and Cyber Operator, and soon to be a planner in higher echelon, this course is very relevant and responsive to the current cyber operating environment. Going back to the basics, to quote Sun Tzu, "Know Your Enemy and Know Yourself.""

Lieutenant Colonel Rodrigo Quinto, Philippine Army Cyber Battalion (Cohort 3)

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"You will come away from this course with a comprehensive and deep understanding of how the rules of international law apply in cyberspace and (just as importantly) the areas where the law is still unsettled. The lectures are fascinating and easy to digest, and the roundtables and live seminars help cement your knowledge as you apply the rules of international law to fictional cyber incident scenarios. This course is essential for international law practitioners."

Alex Preve, Associate Attorney, Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass LLP, San Francisco, California, USA (Cohort 3)

• • •

"This course was very helpful for me and my organization as I can apply all of my new knowledge to cybersecurity best practices. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to take this course."

Lieutenant Colonel Yanin Surapanpairoge, Chief, Policy and Plans Section, Cyber Centre, Ministry of Defence, Thailand (Cohort 3)

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"I am thoroughly impressed! The course masterfully bridges the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application and the lecturers help you realize how applicable cyber law is! This course is not just an educational experience but an essential resource for anyone looking to navigate the complex and evolving - and very interesting - landscape of international law & cyber."

Goran Sandić, Researcher at University of Belgrade and Coordinator at Belgrade International Law Circle (Cohort 3)

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"As a recent participant in the International Law of Cyber Operations Executive Course, I am delighted to share my experience. This course has been a transformative journey for me, broadening my understanding and deepening my appreciation of the International Law of Cyber Operations. The comprehensive curriculum and interactive and engaging teaching methods made complex concepts approachable and enjoyable."

Captain Khalifa Alkuwari, Ministry of Interior, Qatar and PhD candidate, University of Bradford, UK (Cohort 3)

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"I find this course really helpful as it helps me to understand the global context in regards to cyber and its potential use and impacts on the global crises as far as International Law is concerned."

John Jack, OGCIO, Vanuatu (Cohort 4)

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"I highly recommend this course to anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of international law in the realm of cyber operations. I gained a deep understanding of the legal frameworks governing cyber operations globally. From the principles of sovereignty in cyberspace to the nuances of international treaties and conventions, every aspect was covered. The course not only enhanced my professional expertise but also equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to navigate the complex landscape of cyber law with precision and proficiency."

Vee Asuncion, Lawyer/ Investigation Agent, National Bureau of Investigation Cybercrime Division, Philippines (Cohort 4)

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"A thoughtful walk-through of some of the basic features and challenges of international cyber law as it is emerging today."

Bram Abramson, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (Cohort 4)

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"If you're looking for a thought provoking, well balanced and expertly presented analysis of Cyberlaw within the International Legal Framework, there is no other course like this that will expose you to the established, question the present and provoke discussion on what is to come. With expert leaders in the field presenting and available for discussion, this course stands unique in its domain."

Jonathan Sinclair, Sinclair And Associates (Cohort 4)

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"This course was highly informative and educational, even to those who were not necessarily well acquainted with the principles of international law. This course is excellent for those who intend have an in-depth look at international law from a cyber perspective."

Yovin Nirvanesh Naidu, Legal Officer, Office of the Attorney General, Fiji (Cohort 5)

Join Cohort 8

Registration for Cohort 8 starting in May 2025 opens on February 10th.

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Cyber Law International Academy