Thought Leadership
The International Criminal Court in The Hague has once again been the target of a hacker attack. The attack took place almost two years after a similar incident.
At the end of last week, the ICC’s IT security systems registered a “highly sophisticated and targeted cyberattack”, as the court announced. The institution did not initially provide any specific details on the type and scope of the attack.
Rapid response from the IT department
According to the court, the internal early warning systems took effect immediately and were able to quickly identify and contain the attack. “Detection and containment were prompt,” the official statement said. A comprehensive analysis of the impact on the entire IT infrastructure is currently underway.
The court announced that it had already introduced countermeasures to limit the possible consequences of the incident. Details of the security measures taken were not disclosed for obvious reasons. It also states: “The Court considers it essential to inform the public and States Parties of such incidents and of the efforts made to address them, and calls for continued support in the face of these challenges.”
Second incident within two years
In 2023, a cyberattack had already significantly disrupted the work of the ICC. At the time, the court had to disconnect its systems from the internet for weeks. The institution classified the attack as a “targeted and sophisticated espionage attempt” aimed at sabotaging the court’s work.
The current incident occurred during the NATO summit in The Hague, which was also attended by US President Donald Trump. At the same time, the court is dealing with several politically sensitive cases, including arrest warrants against Russian President Putin, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Hamas commander Al-Masri.
