Daily Management Review

Germany Plans On Cyber Security Research To End Reliance On U.S. Tech


09/11/2018


Germany eyes the spot among cyber security leaders and strives to carve an independent space for itself.



Germany has revealed its plans of funding for cyber security research as it aims to put a full stop on “its reliance” on other countries like China and the U.S. for digital technologies. The German “Interior Minister”, Horst Seehofer informed reporters that the country requires novelty in tools for securing a place among the top cyber security players besides shoring up “European security and independence”.
 
In Seehofer’s words:
“It is our joint goal for Germany to take a leading role in cyber security on an international level. We have to acknowledge we’re lagging behind, and when one is lagging, one needs completely new approaches.”
 
Furthermore, Reuters reported that:
“The agency is a joint interior and defence ministry project”.
 
Like several countries, Germany too has to battle with its “daily barrage of cyber attacks” that target the computer networks of the industry as well as the government. Nevertheless, this move has been criticised by the opposition “Greens lawmaker Konstantin von Notz”, who stated:
“This agency wouldn’t increase our information technology security, but further endanger it”.
 
The work of the agency harbours “offensive capabilities” which is a threat to the diplomatic efforts made by the country for limiting the “use of cyber weapons internationally”. In Greens’ words:
“As a state based on the rule of law, we can only lose a cyber politics arms race with states like China, North Korea or Russia.”
 
Additionally, he urged that the resources are scarce which should be used for “hardening vulnerable systems” instead. In fact, various other countries of Europe too are concerned over their reliance on the U.S. technologies. This spell of concern was cast by the “revelations in 2012” when “U.S. NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden” informed about “a massive spying network”. Furthermore, the “U.S. Patriot Act” too adds on to the concern as it allows the “U.S. government broad powers to compel companies to provide data”.
 
While Seehofer added:
“As a federal government we cannot stand idly by when the use of sensitive technology with high security relevance are controlled by other governments. We must secure and expand such key technologies of our digital infrastructure”.
 
 
References:
reuters.com