Influential international Cyber Law Toolkit nominated for prestigious award

Experts who have created an influential resource which helps countries, militaries, and academics understand how international law applies to cyber activities have been nominated for a prestigious award.

The Cyber Law Toolkit has been shortlisted in the 2026 Cyber Policy Awards by a distinguished panel of judges.

Experts from around the world work together to create the update the unique toolkit, which offers a unique combination of resources, including detailed hypothetical scenarios, a repository of real-world cyber incidents, and a comprehensive collection of national positions on international law in cyberspace.

The project is a collaborative effort, developed by an editorial team led by Professor Kubo Mačák (University of Exeter), Tomáš Minárik (Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency), and Otakar Horák (NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence).

The Cyber Policy Awards are awarded annually by the Institute for Security and Technology (IST) and the toolkit team have been shortlisted in the “International Partnership” category.

Professor Mačák said: “Recognition of our work is a strong signal that international law continues to matter, including in the digital domain.

“We are extremely proud of our collaborative project, which brings together governmental, humanitarian, and academic organizations from across the world. I am deeply grateful to all consortium partners, as well as to our wide community of nearly one hundred expert contributors, for their continuous engagement and support of the project.

“Building partnerships across geopolitical and digital divides has never been more important, and it is a privilege to be recognized alongside colleagues and institutions committed to that shared goal. I am grateful to the judges for the nomination, and to everyone who contributes to, supports, and uses the Cyber Law Toolkit.”

New material, added to the toolkit during an update in 2025, explores issues such as the peaceful settlement of cyber disputes, accountability for crimes against humanity committed through cyber means, and data collection in occupied territory.

Annual updates ensure that the Cyber Law Toolkit remains a trusted reference for those examining the legal challenges raised by cyber operations.

The toolkit now features 35 scenarios, each blending a description of a cyber incident with in-depth legal analysis.

The collection of real-world incidents has also expanded to nearly 80 entries, capturing the latest developments from around the globe.

The toolkit includes a database of the views of 35 states as well as the positions of the African Union and European Union. This allows countries to examine how others interpret and apply international law in the cyber context and has been acknowledged in several official positions and multilateral fora.

Contributions undergo rigorous internal and external peer review, drawing on the expertise of dozens of international lawyers from diverse professional and geographic backgrounds.

The toolkit is supported by six partner institutions: the Czech National Cyber and Information Security Agency, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence, the University of Exeter, the U.S. Naval War College, and Wuhan University.