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The nations have committed to bolstering joint efforts to strengthen cyber defences and leverage the digital ecosystem to advance shared foreign policy objectives.
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Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Elizabeth Truss have signed a Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership, aimed at shaping a positive technology environment.
As part of the agreement, the nations have pledged to intensify co-operation and delivery of shared opportunities and challenges across the cyber and critical technology policy.
This new commitment is underpinned by a four-pillar strategy:
- tackling malign actors;
- promoting shared values and positive vision for technology;
- strengthening global technology supply chains; and
- harnessing technology to solve global challenges.
Joint initiatives promoted under the new partnership are expected to include:
- increasing deterrence by raising the costs for hostile state activity in cyber space – including through strategic co-ordination of cyber sanctions’ regimes;
- strengthening the resilience and response capabilities of countries in the Indo-Pacific region to malicious cyber activity via joint capacity building activity. This is set to include tackling the increasing threat from ransomware with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime;
- developing an action plan on global standard-setting to ensure global standards deliver on security priorities, economic interests and reflect shared values; and
- advancing the Women in Cyber agenda, including through the Women and International Security in Cyber Fellowship.
“Given the significant impact that new technologies have on our societies, co-operation on cyber security and critical technologies is an essential part of the modern UK-Australia relationship,” Minister Payne said.
“This partnership brings together two long-standing friends and allies who will work together to ensure that we shape a positive technology landscape for all.
“An open, safe and secure cyberspace and technologies that work for people, not against them, is key to our combined future.”
Minister Payne added: “Australia and the UK share the goal that technology is used to uphold and protect liberal democratic values, and to benefit our societies, economies and national security.”
[Related: Cyber criminals are scanning Australian entities for vulnerabilities, cyber watchdog warns]
