Programs

The Atlantic Council’s Cyber Statecraft Initiative, part of the Atlantic Council Technology Programs, works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to help shape the conduct of statecraft and to better inform and secure users of technology.

Content

New Atlanticist

Jun 9, 2020

Russian cyberattack on Georgia shows why the US should pass the Georgia Support Act

By George Tsereteli

The US Senate could take a significant step toward helping its vulnerable ally by passing the Georgia Support Act and ensuring its provisions are met. The multitude of statements supporting Georgia and condemning the Russian attacks are, of course, a politically positive message for Georgia—but to think statements can change or deter the Kremlin’s behavior is beyond naïve. Concrete actions, such as the passage and signing of H.R.598 into law, would be a message of support backed with real weight.

Cybersecurity Security Partnerships

Timely Commentary & Analysis

Jun 5, 2020

Artificial intelligence principles: Avoiding catastrophe

By Robert A. Manning

An urgent challenge for the coming decade is to forge a global consensus to operationalize widely-shared ethical principles, standards, and norms to govern the development and use of artificial intelligence.

Americas China

New Atlanticist

Jun 2, 2020

The UK is forging a 5G club of democracies to avoid reliance on Huawei

By Justin Sherman

As the need for alternatives to Huawei 5G technology becomes more urgent, democracies must pursue these kinds of diplomatic, coalition solutions. Forming a democratic 5G alliance is a step in that direction.

China Cybersecurity

New Atlanticist

May 27, 2020

The cybersecurity effects of coronavirus

By Derek Bernsen

Since COVID-19 began to spread within the United States in January of this year, the United States has been concentrating its efforts on mitigating the crisis at both a state and federal level. However, all efforts at containing the growing cybersecurity problems have been surface level and reactive at best.

Coronavirus Cybersecurity

In the News

May 26, 2020

Sherman in Defense News: War rhetoric surrounds COVID surveillance

Cybersecurity National Security

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2020

The 5×5—Is it a game or is it real? Simulations and wargaming in cyber

By Simon Handler

Greater insight into risk and response allow public and private sector organizations to better prepare for crisis before it happens and rerun history to stave off defeat in future. Wargames can be complex live events or low-cost simulations. They can even be the basis for major reforms to policy and doctrine, giving us much to understand about them. Shall we play a game?

Cybersecurity
gtc photo of currencies in jars

Digital currencies

May 26, 2020

Going deeper: Central Bank Digital Currencies and how best to design them to benefit everyone

On May 19, 2020 - Lisa Pollina, Gabriel Abed, George Bachiashvili, Shane Glynn, Aditi Kuma shared perspectives on "The digital dollar: Do we need it and how do we build it?" as part of a live video discussion moderated by Michael Greenwald. The discussion focused what exactly is a digital dollar? How would it work, how could it best be designed, and who would manage it?

Cybersecurity Digital Currencies
gtc overhead view of shipping containers and industry from above

Event Recap

May 21, 2020

Event recap | Mobilizing industry to encourage multi-sector solutions to global concerns

By Corina LJ DuBois

On May 21, 2020, Daryl Haegley, Yusuf Abdul-Qadir, Melissa Flagg, Lee McKnight, Mary Collins, Lin Wells, and Divya Chander shared their perspectives in a live video discussion titled "Mobilizing industry to encourage multi-sector solutions to address emergent global concerns" and moderated by David Bray, Director of the Atlantic Council's GeoTech Center. The discussion focused on new ways of addressing the COVID-19 pandemic and application of multi-sector industry solutions to current and potential future pandemics.

Civil Society Coronavirus

In the News

May 20, 2020

Dagres in The Washington Post: How Iranian hackers tried to phish me

The email from a prominent Israeli think tank offered some provocative suggestions on U.S. policy towards China. “We must understand that China is at war with the United States,” it declared, citing the covid-19 pandemic as evidence. Its authors recommended that the Trump administration set up a team of “top China experts” such as Stephen K. Bannon […]

Cybersecurity Iran

New Atlanticist

May 19, 2020

Seven perspectives on securing the global IoT supply chain

By Trey Herr

Many IoT devices are manufactured abroad and many of these are extremely low cost with little consideration made for security. There is nothing inherently untrustworthy or insecure about foreign manufacturing, and individual firm and product lines are much more fruitful levels of analysis in establishing good security practices from bad. Importantly however—the United States has limited means to enforce its standards in foreign jurisdictions, like China, where the bulk of IoT products are manufactured.

Cybersecurity Internet

Experts