UK and US host international dialogue to advance cyber support for groups that strengthen democracy
- UK and US cyber chiefs convene international partners to discuss the heightened threat that groups central to our democratic societies face online
- NCSC CEO and CISA Director chair discussion on how countries can support civil society at risk of targeting and transnational repression
- Agency heads from nine countries share insights and approaches to help improve collective cyber resilience of global democracy
The head of the National Cyber Security Centre has co-chaired a meeting with international partners to discuss how democracies can help defend communities at higher risk of being targeted online.
NCSC CEO Lindy Cameron and the Director of the United States’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Jen Easterly held a strategic dialogue yesterday (Thursday 28th September) with leaders from six other countries to discuss the threat of transnational repression facing certain civil society groups around the world.
Earlier this year, the participating countries – Australia, Canada, Estonia, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the UK and the US – committed to identifying ways to support the cyber security of these communities in the face of authoritarian governments increasingly using cyber means to target them.
Communities identified as being at higher risk include individuals working in politics, including elected officials such as MPs, journalists, academics, lawyers, dissidents, and those sanctioned by foreign states.
The dialogue, which has been set up by CISA as part of its High-Risk Community Protection initiative, saw participants brief about their existing efforts to protect civil society groups online, exchange insights into the threat landscape and agree to continue collaborating.
Lindy Cameron, Chief Executive of the NCSC, said:
“Protecting civil society from cyber threats is vital so it can continue its important work upholding our democratic values in the UK and around the world.
“The NCSC with CISA and international partners have reaffirmed our commitment to support at-risk communities to bolster their cyber security in the face of a heightened threat of transnational repression.
“This strategic dialogue is the latest step we are taking to defend our democracy and improve our collective cyber resilience against online harms.”
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat said:
“Over the past year we’ve seen concerted attempts by foreign powers to intimidate, harass and harm communities here in the UK.
“An increasingly connected online world grants them new opportunities to intimidate journalists and dissidents who are resident beyond their borders.
“This dialogue brings together the best minds in cyber to discuss how we can strengthen the online security of at-risk communities - which is vital to maintaining the free speech and scrutiny that repressive regimes so clearly fear.”
The UK is committed to working with partners to ensure cyberspace remains a safe and prosperous place for everyone.
A range of cyber security guidance, including practical advice for high-risk individuals such as those working in politics, can be found on the NCSC website.
In April, the NCSC highlighted how commercial cyber intrusion tools – or spyware – have almost certainly been used by some states in the targeting of individuals such as journalists, human rights activists, political dissidents and opponents and foreign government officials.
The participants in this first Strategic Dialogue on the Cyber Security of Civil Society Under Threat of Transnational Repression have agreed to meet in future to continue addressing the shared challenges of transnational repression.
