The International Criminal Court has published an update on the September security incident that affected its information systems.
“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,” the ICC said, noting it can’t confirm who was the culprit behind the hack.
“The Court has also identified that disinformation campaigns targeting the ICC and its officials may be anticipated to be launched in an effort to tarnish the ICC image and delegitimize its activities,” the organization said.
The ICC said it is strengthening its risk management framework and implementing procedures to be ready to respond to any potential repercussions from the cyberattack including any potential security risk to victims and witnesses, Court officials and the Court’s operations.
The ICC, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, is the first and only permanent international court with jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crime of aggression.
Established in 2002, the organization is currently investigating crimes against humanity in Ukraine. In March 2023, the court issued arrest warrants for Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation Maria Lvova-Belova, both accused of the war crime of unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children from occupied areas of Ukraine to Russia.