EU cybersecurity and cyber diplomacy

Abstract

Over the last decades cybersecurity has become a cornerstone of European digital development. Alongside with the diffusion of information and communication technologies and the deepening (as well as widening) of the European Union, the initial narrow and sectoral data security policies have expanded into a comprehensive cybersecurity framework addressing issues from resilient infrastructure and technological sovereignty, through tackling cybercrime, to cyber defence capabilities and responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. In this complex web of interrelated policies a relative newcomer at the European Union (EU) level is cyber diplomacy. Sometimes also called public diplomacy 2.0, it factors into the cross-border connectivity of cyberspace and reflects a shift in international relations where the lines between external and internal policies, military and civilian domains are blurred. However, the term cyber diplomacy is fluid and it is not well understood which topics should be under its “umbrella”, in particular in relation to cybersecurity, where it seems to be linked the most. This article aims to map existing and proposed instruments that make up the EU’s arsenal in this broad context to answer the following questions: what is cyber diplomacy and how is it related to the EU cybersecurity? Is cyber diplomacy in the EU becoming something in its own right as a distinct set of tools to secure the EU policy objectives?

Digital Diplomacy in Kenya

“…Countries can now communicate and work together more easily because of digital diplomacy, which has eliminated the need for face-to-face meetings and negotiations (Melissen, 2020). However, it has also brought up new difficulties, such as the requirement for strong cyber security measures to safeguard sensitive data and the difficulty in confirming the veracity of information posted online (Barrinha & Renard, 2017;Kasper et al, 2021). The role of social media and other digital technologies in shaping public opinion and foreign policy decision-making is significant and continues to grow.…”

The Art of Defense Diplomacy: How New Forms of Diplomacy are Shaping International Relations

“…The discussion went further, it explores a new form of diplomacy, namely cyber diplomacy. Cyber diplomacy involves cooperation between countries regarding cyber security and strengthening cyber security and defense and avoiding and overcoming increasingly complex and growing threats (Kasper, Osula, & Molnar, 2021). As previously mentioned, cyber diplomacy is a new form of defense diplomacy in the field of cyber security.…”

The State as a Special Subject of Cyberspace

“…Національна оборона та внутрішня безпека залежать від інфраструктури та ресурсів приватного сектору, у той же час держава може допомагати постачальникам життєво важливих послуг та гарантам національної критичної інформаційної інфраструктури як координатор та балансир різних інтересів. Появу кібердипломатії в ЄС констатує міжнародний колектив учених -А. Каспер, А. Осала та А. Молнар [13]. За останні десятиліття, відмічають автори, кібербезпека стала наріжним каменем європейського цифрового розвитку.…”