The US State Department has recently announced a new strategy in the field of cybersecurity, with the purpose of limiting the digital influence of Russia and China in developing nations and thwarting their attempts to interfere with elections. This strategy was unveiled on Monday at the RSA conference in San Francisco, a renowned global technological event.
Neut Fic, the chief cyber diplomat of the State Department, stated that “the United States will consistently expose the activities of hackers and propagandists seeking to undermine democracy in various countries.”
The State Department’s strategy focuses on collaborating with developing nations, promoting a positive vision of cyberspace that opposes any form of digital interference. It builds upon years of American efforts to persuade allies and partners not to utilize key communication technologies and software from authoritarian regimes.
US Secretary of State, Antoni Blinken, stressed in his address that economies and democracies worldwide require cybersecurity for their well-being. He highlighted the potential for catastrophic attacks from ransomware programs to cripple economies and governments to exploit hacking software to target dissidents.
As an example, Costa Rica, a US ally, experienced a devastating ransomware attack in 2022. In response, the United States provided $25 million for recovery efforts following the attack, which targeted the country’s social security agency and government finances. Costa Rica also heeded US advice by refraining from using Chinese technology in its 5G networks, much to the displeasure of Beijing.
However, Blinken acknowledged that Chinese telecommunication firms like Huawei still hold significant market share in some countries, leading to heightened competition with providers from authoritarian states in the realm of cloud computing technologies.