ICC Hit with Cybersecurity Attack

The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on Monday that it had been the target of a sophisticated and targeted cyberattack, discovered late last week. 

In a statement, the court described the incident as a new and advanced breach of cybersecurity that has since been contained.

This marks the second known cyber intrusion into the ICC’s systems in recent years. In 2023, the court also suffered a significant cyberattack that disrupted its internet-connected systems for weeks. At the time, no details were released regarding the nature or origin of the breach.

The latest incident comes at a time of heightened international focus on the court following its controversial legal moves in high-profile global conflicts. 

In November 2023, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The move sparked widespread political backlash and increased pressure on the court's operations and security.

In a separate case, the ICC also issued a warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, citing allegations of the unlawful deportation of children from Ukraine during the ongoing war. Both Russia and Israel reject the legitimacy of the court's jurisdiction, as neither country is a signatory to the Rome Statute, the treaty that established the ICC.

While the ICC did not provide specific details on the latest cyberattack, it acknowledged the increasing challenges it faces in maintaining digital security amid its growing role in prosecuting complex international crimes.