Our panel
Last weekend, I attended the Munich Security Conference. A cold couple of days – but a great opportunity to meet many interesting and influential figures in the field of defence, security and foreign affairs. I was there to highlight the increasing importance of Internet security. Internet attacks are ever more a threat to our well-being, being used as a new instrument for political and economic disruption; espionage; and potentially outright attacks instigated by terrorist groups or foreign governments. Meanwhile, some say cyber crime accounts for over $1 trillion—more than the global drugs trade.
Several speakers mentioned the relevance of the prolonged economic downturn: that in such an economic climate, Internet hackers risk becoming increasingly like terrorists, like what happened with the “red brigades” of the 1970s crisis. I sincerely hope this does not happen. But nonetheless we cannot ignore the problem of internet security: it is too important an issue to overlook, but too many still do. So later this year I’m planning an ambitious strategy for Europe to make sure that governments and the private sector wake up to the importance of acting in this area.
At the same time, we need to be careful and to protect freedom of speech and privacy. The Internet should not left to the military or to inter-state treaties—as though it were just another arena in which to exercise national power. The Internet has a very special nature, providing us all with an opportunity to connect and express ourselves: our priority should be to preserve this special character. So security should be combined with freedom: an important challenge in places where democratic voices still struggle to be heard. There was a lot of food for thought for me in that conference and I will continue to consult before coming up with proposals in the autumn.
Another thought. Syria was mentioned a lot in Munich, with an powerful and moving intervention by Nobel peace price laureate Tawakkol Karman. It was truly a great inspiration to meet someone fighting so hard for human rights and freedom of expression in a country like Yemen, where those rights are so valuable. The consensus at the conference was that it was a real shame that the UN Security Council, gathering in New York on 4 February, had been unable to adopt a resolution on Syria: the killing has to stop. But we should pay tribute to the many women and men who continue to struggle for freedom, by going out in the streets of Syria, risking their lives so that their children may come to know a freer life. I hope we can help them keep hope in the future and it made me ever more determined to find a way to protect and support such Internet activists.
[Edit: you can now see online my speech to the conference on the above topics]
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“Internet attacks are ever more a threat to our well-being, being used as a new instrument for political and economic disruption; espionage; and potentially outright attacks instigated by terrorist groups or foreign governments.”
Internet attacks come in many forms. One form of attack is disproportional legislation such as [imv] the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
ACTA is a disproportional attack on the internet and on the privacy & expression of internet users.
You and the EU Commission support ACTA in it’s current form. You and the EU Commission are one of the internet attackers you speak of, imv.
“Several speakers mentioned the relevance of the prolonged economic downturn: that in such an economic climate, Internet hackers risk becoming increasingly like terrorists, like what happened with the “red brigades” of the 1970s crisis.”
A “terrorist” is one who terrifies others. If you or the EU Commission have proof that hackers are terrifying others, let us see it rather than using the hyperbolic “terrorist” labels.
If those that attack the internet are “terrorists”, then you and the EU Commission should look at your own support of #ACTA and wonder if others considered it an attack on ordinary citizens; could others see you and the EU Commission as a “terrorists” because of your and your collegues at the EU Commissions’ attacks on the internet & those ordinary citizens who use it?
The phrase “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter” is apt here.
“At the same time, we need to be careful and to protect freedom of speech and privacy. The Internet should not left to the military or to inter-state treaties—as though it were just another arena in which to exercise national power.”
Why are you and the EU Commission supporting the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) if you do not think the Internet should not left to the military or to inter-state treaties?
Your position seems untenable.
You cannot support ACTA[1] and then say the internet should not be left to inter-state treaties, which is exactly what ACTA is! Unbelievable!
[1] – “The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) is a plurilateral agreement for the purpose of establishing international standards for intellectual property rights enforcement.[3] The agreement aims to establish an international legal framework for targeting counterfeit goods, generic medicines andcopyright infringement on the Internet, and would create a new governing body outside existing forums, such as the World Trade Organization, theWorld Intellectual Property Organization, or the United Nations.[4][5][6]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-Counterfeiting_Trade_Agreement
Very nice post. I agree totally that there is a lack of action and awareness on the severity of threat our free Internet is suffering right now. It is a huge enabler, please let’s keep it this way. Trying to cage it’s power with oppression and regulation is not going to do us much good. Those that want bad will always find a way around these digital gates and toothless paper regulations. It is the average Joe and Jane that will suffer from the suggested laws now under revision. The world is changing and the cooperating and cocreating spirit of the Internet adopters is helping us massively. I think that the mainstream Internet users should be made more aware of what is going on, so that through a democratic process smart, usefull and helpfull descisions can be made to make the Internet a safer place that will remain free and open. One last thing. I think that not only security should be bonded with freedom, but also responsebility. Involving the grand masses in maintaining freedom, security and responsebility on the net will be the game changer in the coming few years. But that is just my personal assumption. Please keep up the good work, and help to keep the Internet a free and safe medium for all peoples.
> Internet attacks are ever more a threat to our well-being, being used
> as a new instrument for political [...] disruption
You mean like attacking the website of your magnificent bastardtalent, the academic impostor and baron of lies? *LOL*
I thought ENISA was already enough in the joke department of PPP for ICT security.
But anyway, I recall how the EU responded to the SWIFT scandal when European data was illegally spied upon. No one was held criminally liable. Instead the Commission drafted an agreement with the offending state to legalise the data transfer, for nothing in return.
At present the Commission hasn’t even managed to harmonise measures and sanctions against business and industrial espionage within the EU. The Commission does nothing to support static analyis tools oder code review.
Politics is the art of controlling your environment.