Sean Cordey

Haldeneggsteig 4
8092 Zürich
Switzerland

Sean Cordey is Senior Researcher at the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at ETH Zurich. His research spans digital humanitarianism, cyber policy and law, influence operations, digital warfare, and AI governance.

In collaboration with the ICRC, his current research as part of on the external page HAC Project: A Humanitarian Protection Framework in Digital(ized) Conflicts is primarily concerned with investigating digital operations in armed conflicts and their digitally enabled risks and harms to civilians. Such operations include, among others, cyber operations, information operations, connectivity denials, digital surveillance, data and AI misuses. The project aims to support and develop some tools for the operationalization of humanitarian protection work on digital risks.

Sean holds M.A. in International Affairs, Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and St. Gallen University (UNISG). He previously worked at the ICRC in the Protection of Civilians unit and the Data Protection office on digital and cyber risks and the Professional Standards for Protection Work. He has also been a researcher in the CSS’ Risk and Resilience Team and Cyber Defense project and a researcher assistant at Harvard’s Belfer Center where he contributed research and policy advice.

Selected Publications

external page ICRC & al. (2024) Professional Standards for Protection Work 2024: Fourth edition.

Cordey, S. (2023) Software Supply Chain Attacks: An Illustrated Typological Review. Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich.

external page Baezner, M., & Cordey, S. (2022). Influence operations and other conflict trends.Cyber Security Politics, 17–31.

Cordey, S. & Kohler, K. (2021) The Law of Neutrality in Cyberspace The Law of Neutrality in Cyberspace Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich.

Cordey, S. (2020) The Evolving Cyber Threat Landscape during the Coronavirus Crisis. Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich.

external page Lawrence, C. & Cordey, S. (2020) The Case for Increased Transatlantic Cooperation on Artificial Intelligence. Harvard Belfer Center.

Cordey, S. (2019) Cyber Influence Operations: An Overview and Comparative Analysis. Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich.

Cordey, S. and Dewar, R.S. ed. (2019): National Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense Policy Snapshots: Updated Collection 2, 2019, Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich.