Why Hard Measures Are Just Too Hard: Strategy of Punishment Through Offensive Cyber Operations

Abstract

This chapter shows that there are competing perspectives on democracies conducting offensive cyber operations (OCO) for penal purposes and that democracies face challenges in the process of running offensive and defensive operations at once, the latter necessary to deal with hostile reaction. It will also reveal how democratic states may overcome challenges to do one of the most important tasks to carry out OCO—acquire targets. I will proceed to show how democratic states may address forces of potential opposition to the aggressive use of digital resources by examining the chance of cyberspace escalation and how voters and firms address their vulnerabilities to retaliation. Finally, I will discuss why cyber punishment has limited effects as a deterrent even though it does present some benefits for democratic states.