US plans to police global web

The US has called on its allies to follow a wide ranging set of standards aimed at improving global cyber security – and said it will take whatever means necessary to enforce a safer web.

In its International Strategy for Cyberspace, the US laid out ideals to spread an open and interoperable internet, but it also underlined its intention to act as global policeman on the web.

The United States will combine diplomacy, defence, and development to enhance prosperity, security, and openness so all can benefit from networked technology

“To realise this future and help promulgate positive norms, the United States will combine diplomacy, defence, and development to enhance prosperity, security, and openness so all can benefit from networked technology,” the White House paper said.

The document set out a framework for what it considered acceptable state behaviour on the internet, including protection of privacy and intellectual property, freedom of expression and a right to self defence.

Calling on its Nato allies for support, the US said it would push for other nations to fall into line with its vision for international behaviour online, and would enforce its goals through a wide-ranging set of sanctions.

“The US will, along with other nations, encourage responsible behaviour and oppose those who would seek to disrupt networks and systems, dissuading and deterring malicious actors, and reserving the right to defend these vital national assets as necessary and appropriate,” the strategy said.

“We reserve the right to use all necessary means — diplomatic, informational, military, and economic — as appropriate and consistent with applicable international law, in order to defend our nation, our allies, our partners, and our interests.

“In so doing, we will exhaust all options before military force whenever we can.”

The White House also called for a more unified approach to cyber security threats and better collaboration between Computer Emergency Response Teams around the world.