Description of the Working Group
The cybersecurity working group was formed in January 2017 to discuss public policies regarding cybersecurity: the protection of computers, cell phones, and other network-enabled devices or equipment, electronic data and communications, and computer networks including the Internet from unauthorized or unlawful access, interception, interference, exploitation, disruption, damage or attack.
This topic touches on many important areas including:
Cyber warfare and the cyber arms race.
Mass surveillance.
Industrial and state espionage.
Counter-terrorism.
Encryption.
Big Data.
The Internet of Things.
Governance of the Internet.
Government regulation of the Internet.
Privacy and freedom of speech.
Cyber crime.
Software and communication protocols standards and design.
Civil and regulatory liability.
Cyber treaties.
Composition
The committee originally had two co-chairs, Sam Lanfranco and Jack Gemmell. Sam has begged off being a co-chair due to time constraints. Volunteers?
Activities
The committee had its genesis in November 2016 when Science for Peace made a submission to the Federal government’s consultation on cyber security urging that Canada work toward the development of a treaty to prohibit cyber attacks on critical civilian infrastructure.
The committee has held two meetings since its establishment. Paul Meyer, the former Ambassador of Canada to the UN and author of “Give Cyber Peace a Chance” based on his Eric Fawcett Memorial Lecture (Peace Magazine, Jan-Mar 2017), has attended by Skype.
Plans
Create a web page on SfP for the work group with links to the abundance of material in this area.
Possible speakers suggested include:
Michael Walma, Canada’s expert at the last instance of the United Nations Group of Governmental Experts on Cyber Security and director of foreign policy planning at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, where he leads on Internet foreign policy issues.
Ronald Diebert, Christopher Parsons or other person from The Citizens Law
Deepa Kundur, Engineering Science, U of T
John Adams, former head of CSE
Edward Snowden (?!)
Possible topics:
Working towards cyber peace.
Bill C-59 and Canada’s use of offensive cyber attacks.
The new National Defence cyberwar policies.
— Jack Gemmell [Report to the 2017 SfP AGM]
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