CSTO is a platform for making decisions on information security

Coordination of stances and main areas of cooperation in the sphere of international information security between the Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization is one of the main areas of implementation of the Russian Federation policy in the sphere of international information security.
This is stated in the Basic Principles of State Policy on International Information Security adopted by the Russian Federation and signed on April 12, 2021 by the Russian President Vladimir Putin.
As follows from its preamble, the Basic Principles are “a strategic document of the Russian Federation that reflects official views on the essence of international information security, the purpose and objectives of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of international information security.”
The Basic Principles aim to promote on the international arena Russian approaches to the formation of international information security and Russian initiatives in this area.
In turn, as follows from the document, international information security is a state of global information space where international peace, security and stability are maintained based on universally recognized norms and principles of international law and equal partnership.
The document formulates the main threats to international information security:
– To use information and communication technologies in the military and political and other spheres to undermine (impair) the sovereignty, violate the territorial integrity of states or otherwise impede the maintenance of international peace, security and stability in the global information space;
– To use such ICT for terrorist purposes, including to promote terrorism and to attract new supporters of terrorist activities;
– To use such ICT for extremist purposes, as well as to interfere in the internal affairs of sovereign states;
– To use such ICT for criminal purposes, including to commit computer information crimes and various types of fraud;
– To conduct computer attacks on states’ information resources, including critical information infrastructure;
– Certain states’ use of their technological dominance in the global information space to monopolize the market of information and communication technologies limiting other states’ access to advanced information and communication technologies, as well as to increase information inequality and their technological dependence on the states dominant in the information sphere.
The objective of the Russian state policy in the field of international information security is very specific: to promote the establishment of an international legal regime that creates conditions for the prevention (settlement) of inter-state conflicts in the global information space, as well as for the formation of a system of international information security, taking into account Russian national interests.
One of the main areas of implementation of the policy in the field of information security is holding bilateral and multilateral expert consultations, coordinating positions and main areas of cooperation in the field of international information security with the CIS Member Nations, BRICS association and Member States of the Collective Security Treaty Organization.
Thus, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly are recognized as one of the main international platforms for securing a fair international legal regime for the prevention (settlement) of inter-state conflicts in the global information space.
Let us remind you that the issue of international information security receives constant attention from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly.
For instance, according to the 2016–2020 CSTO PA Action Plan, the CSTO PA developed Concept Action Plan and Toolbox to Counter Cyber Challenges and Threats adopted on November 30, 2020; Model Law on Countering Terrorism and Extremism Through Information adopted on October 30, 2018; and Recommendations on the Improvement of the CSTO Member States’ Criminal Legislation in the Area of Countering Information-Related Offences adopted on October 13, 2017.
The 2021–2025 CSTO PA Action Plan includes the development of a number of model laws and recommendations to ensure international information security:
– CSTO Model Law on Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure Facilities,
– CSTO Model Law on Protection of Information and Cybersecurity,
– CSTO Model Law on Information Security,
– Recommendations for the CSTO Member States on Elaboration of General Principles of Development of National Legislation on Formation and Use of Big Data for the Purpose of Ensuring National Security;
– Recommendations for the CSTO Member States on Elaboration of General Principles of Development of National Legislation in the Area of Design of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics for the Purpose of Ensuring National Security;
– Recommendations on the Harmonization of the CSTO Member States’ Legislation on Digital Signatures for the Purpose of Ensuring Information Security;
– Recommendations for the CSTO Member States on Elaboration of General Principles of State Regulation of the Internet for the Purpose of Ensuring National Security;
– Recommendations on the Regulation of Circulation of Virtual Currencies (Combating the Spread of Cryptocurrencies and Other Electronic Money Surrogates that Undermine (Erode) National Financial Systems).
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