When technology becomes geopolitics: The EU’s response to cyber threats

Abstract

Digital technologies and increasing interconnectedness create vast positive opportunities for European societies but also challenges, from “classic” cyber-attacks and espionage to cyber-enabled manipulation of elections and the undermining of the integrity of digital critical infrastructure. Technology has become geopolitics and the EU is developing new instruments to counter the threats—from the Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox and a new horizontal sanctions regime to the Code of Practice against Disinformation and the Recommendation on cybersecurity of 5G networks. Guided initially by the orientations in the 2016 Global Strategy—and events beyond—the EU is becoming an increasingly geopolitical actor in the technological domain.