Cybersecurity Dilemmas

Individuals, businesses, governments, and society at large have tied their future to information technologies, and activities carried out in cyberspace have become integral to daily life. Yet these activities - many of them drivers of economic development - are under constant attack from vandals, criminals, terrorists, hostile states, and other malevolent actors. In addition, a variety of legitimate actors, including businesses and governments, have an interest in collecting, analyzing, and storing information from and about individuals and organizations, potentially creating security and privacy risks. Cybersecurity is made extremely difficult by the incredible complexity and scale of cyberspace. The challenges to achieving cybersecurity constantly change as technologies advance, new applications of information technologies emerge, and societal norms evolve.

In our interconnected world, cyberspace is a key topic that transcends borders and should influence (as well as be influenced by) international relations. As such, both national and international laws will need careful evaluation to help ensure the conviction of cybercriminals, support companies that work internationally, and protect national security. On December 8 and 9, 2014, the Raymond and Beverly Sackler U.S.-U.K. Scientific Forum "Cybersecurity Dilemmas: Technology, Policy, and Incentives" examined a broad range of topics including cybersecurity and international relations, privacy, rational cybersecurity, and accelerating progress in cybersecurity. This report summarizes the presentations and discussions from this forum.