Page 69 - WEF Reoprt 2020

The proliferation of standards makes it

more difficult to converge on a single one

The importance of global tech Geopolitical risks
and cyber governance Digital innovation is both influencing and
being influenced by geopolitical tension,
Attempts to address the security challenges which amplifies the possibility for risk and
of 4IR technologies are maturing, but minimizes the chances for cooperation. At
they are often still fragmented and limited the same time, the private sector exercises
in scope and participants. Numerous significant power to impact outcomes in this
initiatives bring together businesses and realm. Indeed, global tech companies have
governments to build trust, promote security leveraged open digital borders to integrate
in cyberspace, assess the impact of global supply chains and connect people
cyberattacks and assist victims. Multilateral worldwide—but these companies are also
33
efforts, such as the Council of Europe’s challenging some core competencies of
Budapest Convention, also aim to define nation states, such as standard-setting
responsible behaviour in cyberspace and and monetary policies. Technological
harmonize the patchwork of existing laws and predominance and future national
regulations. Collaborative incident response competitiveness go hand in hand.
34
and information-sharing efforts attempt to The lack of a global tech governance
centralize cybersecurity capabilities to reduce framework increases business influence on
the impact of cyberattacks. 35 standard-setting, the foreign participation
in national critical infrastructure, foreign
International efforts to develop AI standards acquisition of domestic technology, the
are also ongoing (for example, in the field offshoring of data, and technology transfer
of AI and ethics alone, there are over 80 as a price to access foreign markets,
38
frameworks), yet the large increase in influencing societal risks as well (see below).
36
such initiatives serves to fragment the Additional risks for states include:
response to the threat, often imposing
burdensome and sometimes conflicting Parallel cyberspace. Connectivity
obligations on organizations operating depends on internationally established
across national boundaries. The proliferation protocols. Historically, multilateral
of standards also makes it more difficult stakeholders have tended to favour a fairly
for countries and companies to converge open and loosely regulated cyberspace.
on a single one as more AI-enabled systems However, current international developments
are adopted. point to an increased risk of divergence in
protocols—old and new—that could lead
Even more critical, international and to fragmentation of cyberspace and future
national policies are not keeping up with technologies. Additionally, if countries
39
technological advances. The need is continue to seek “cyber-sovereignty”—
urgent for a more comprehensive, inclusive national or regional versions of the
and agile global governance architecture internet —global interconnectivity
40
to address the dynamic and intertwined could be further disrupted.
security issues raised by the 4IR. The “age
of digital interdependence” will benefit First-mover advantage. Patents in 4IR
all societies only if the wide-ranging technologies are being filed at an increasing
geopolitical, economic and societal risks rate. Governments as well as businesses
41
it could bring are managed in a coordinated want to be at the forefront of cutting-edge
and inclusive way. The current disruption technologies because they stand to benefit
37
of the multilateral system (see Chapter from being the first to make breakthroughs.
1, Global Risks 2020) renders the First-mover advantage can shift geopolitical
development of such a framework balance by influencing standards, systems
more challenging. and production chains.

64 Wild Wide Web