The product of a three-year project by twenty renowned international law scholars and practitioners, the Tallinn Manual identifies the international law applicable to cyber warfare and sets out ninety-five 'black-letter rules' governing such conflicts. It addresses topics including sovereignty, State responsibility, the jus ad bellum, international humanitarian law, and the law of neutrality. An extensive commentary accompanies each rule, which sets forth the rule's basis in treaty and customary law, explains how the group of experts interpreted applicable norms in the cyber context, and outlines any disagreements within the group as to each rule's application.

‘… the Tallinn Manual on the International Law Applicable to Cyber Warfare … presents a comprehensive application of the law of armed conflict to state hostilities in cyberspace … The likely contention over the approach of the manual will have some states arguing that relying on existing legal interpretations leaves state behaviour in cyberspace susceptible to both over- and underreaction in the event of cyber conflict. Such reactions may spark the debate to pursue normative practices much faster, and while Schmitt makes clear that the manual ‘does not set forth lex ferenda, best practice, or preferred policy’ … it will likely serve as a basis for others to do so.’

Colin Sweet Source: Europe-Asia Studies

'[The] Tallinn Manual is now the go-to resource on the law applicable to cyberwar.'

Kristen Eichensehr Source: American Journal of International Law