The role of the UN in normative counteraction to the transnational crimes of terroristic character committed in the information sphere

INTRODUCTION. In today’s world, threats to international information security are increasing. One of them is the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes. The United Nations has become the centre for the development of measures to counter such practices. The article discusses the role of the United Nations in the formation of a new international legal institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study was based on resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly, the United Nations Security Council, the texts of relevant international treaties and draft treaties, and academic writings. The methodological basis of the study was the general scientific and private scientific methods of knowledge which are traditional for legal works.

RESEARCH RESULT. As a result of the research, the authors corrected the view of the term "information terrorism" that is being approved in legal science, and highlighted the provisions of UN General Assembly and UN Security Council resolutions that form the normative basis for state ‘countering crimes in the information space, and more broadly, the use of information and communication technologies for criminal purposes.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The authors note that the formation of a new international legal in- stitution takes place within the framework and under the auspices of the United Nations mainly under the basis of soft law norms. But now a new stage of "switching" is beginning. It is the stage in which the method of developing international recommendatory norms turns to the method of developing international Treaty norms that have a more stringent legal force.

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