The U.S. Department of State launched the international strategy for cyberspace and digital policy during the "RCA" conference in San Francisco, California. The new strategy, titled "Towards an Innovative, Secure Digital Future that Respects Rights," has been developed by the State Department in collaboration with other federal agencies to guide international engagement regarding technology diplomacy and to enhance the national security strategy in cyberspace.
The strategy focuses on the concept of digital solidarity, representing the desire for collective action to achieve common goals, assist partners in capacity building, and provide mutual support. Digital solidarity means that those who use digital technologies in a rights-respecting manner become safer, more resilient, prosperous, and capable of self-determination while striving for innovation in technological superiority.
The concept of digital solidarity is based on efforts to build capabilities in the digital and cyberspace, where partners have a greater capacity to establish a resilient and defensible digital system, as well as a quicker response and recovery ability in the event of incidents and to hold criminals and malicious actors accountable.
According to the State Department's statement, the strategy outlines the following to build broad digital solidarity:
**Three Guiding Principles**
1. A positive vision for a safe and inclusive cyberspace grounded in international law, including international human rights law.
2. Integration of cybersecurity with sustainable development and technological innovation.
3. A comprehensive policy approach that utilizes appropriate diplomatic tools and international expertise across the entire digital system.
**Four Areas of Focus**
1. Building, enhancing, and maintaining an open, inclusive, secure, and resilient digital system.
2. Aligning rights-respecting approaches with digital governance and data privacy alongside international partners.
3. Promoting responsible state behavior in cyberspace and addressing threats through coalition-building and working with partners.
4. Strengthening and building the capacities of international partners in digital and cyberspace, including the ability to combat crimes.
The statement noted the "misuse of digital tools and cyberspace by repressive regimes and other actors to threaten international peace and stability, harm others, exert malign influence, and undermine the practice of human rights." The strategy for cyberspace and innovative digital technologies that respect rights is essential for U.S. strategic, security, economic, and foreign policy interests.
In the future, the U.S. will work with a wide array of partners around the world to achieve and expand digital solidarity. The statement further noted that "we will work with allies, partners, and stakeholders to shape, develop, govern, and utilize digital and cyberspace technologies to enhance economic prosperity, strengthen security, combat cybercrime, promote and protect human rights, democracy, the rule of law, and address cross-border challenges. We welcome all who seek to develop and deploy technologies that align with those goals."
This strategy outlines a path for the U.S. to mobilize all available resources to implement this positive and proactive vision, linking digital solidarity between people and information in unprecedented ways, thereby fostering a more inclusive, secure, prosperous, safe, equitable world that respects rights.
