Swift discovery helped the ICC
Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced that it had discovered a new advanced and targeted cybersecurity incident. Its response mechanism and prompt discovery helped to contain the attack.
The ICC did not provide details about the attackers’ intentions, any data leaks, or other compromises. According to the statement, the ICC, which is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, is conducting a threat evaluation after the attack and taking measures to address any injuries. Details about the impact were not provided.
Collective effort against threat actors
The constant support of nations that have ratified the Rome Statute helps the ICC in ensuring its capacity to enforce its mandate and commitment, a responsibility shared by all States Parties. “The Court considers it essential to inform the public and its States Parties about such incidents as well as efforts to address them, and calls for continued support in the face of such challenges,” ICC said.
The ICC was founded in 2002 through the Rome Statute, an international treaty, by a coalition of sovereign states, aimed to create an international court that would prosecute individuals for international crimes– war crimes, genocide, terrorism, and crimes against humanity. The ICC works as a separate body from the U.N. International Court of Justice, the latter brings cases against countries but not individuals.
Similar attack in 2023
In 2023, the ICC reported another cybersecurity incident. The attack was said to be an act of espionage and aimed at undermining the Court’s mandate. The incident had caused it to disconnect its system from the internet.
In the past, the ICC has said that it had experienced increased security concerns as threats against its various elected officials rose. “The evidence available thus far indicates a targeted and sophisticated attack with the objective of espionage. The attack can therefore be interpreted as a serious attempt to undermine the Court's mandate," ICC said.
The recent notable arrests issued by the ICC include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
