The geopolitics of cybersecurity – and what it means for Europe and Japan

Cybersecurity can no longer be regarded as a merely technical problem but has become an instrument of power in geopolitical rivalries. State-sponsored hackers threaten critical infrastructure systems, influence elections with disinformation campaigns, and steal sensitive data from individuals, companies, and governments. At the same time, digitization is inevitably making the world more dependent on the free flow of data, therefore safeguarding security and rule of law while protecting privacy rights and industrial competitiveness is crucial.

These developments highlight the need for collaborative global responses of likeminded partners to build a secure and trusted cyberspace. By creating the world’s largest area of safe data flows, the EU and Japan reveal strong trust in each other’s legal and protective system. This, together with the EPA and SPA has proven that both actors are willing to work together, adapting to a new reality and bolstering the liberal international order with new initiatives. Such a partnership creates a mutually beneficial environment for both actors to advance their cooperation also in rather new fields, such as emerging technologies and cyberspace. How have Japan and Europe – Poland in particular – been responding to cybersecurity threats? How can they strengthen their cooperation efforts and enhance mutual understanding – also among likeminded democratic partners? How does the new Biden administration in the US fit into these cooperation efforts?