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Putin issued a statement on a comprehensive program of measures for restoring the Russia – US cooperation in the filed of international information security
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64086
The timing of this is unusual, but most of the proposals have already been made before
Thread
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64086
The timing of this is unusual, but most of the proposals have already been made before
Thread
1) Putin suggests to restore a regular high-level bilateral dialogue on key cyber issues
Russian & U.S. cyber delegations used to meet regularly. But the latest talks in Feb 2018 were cancelled by the U.S. (see https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3565613 by @ElenaChernenko) and never resumed
Russian & U.S. cyber delegations used to meet regularly. But the latest talks in Feb 2018 were cancelled by the U.S. (see https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3565613 by @ElenaChernenko) and never resumed
2) Putin suggests to "maintain a continuous and effective functioning" of specialized communication channels, i.e. the 2013 cyber hotlines ( https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/17/fact-sheet-us-russian-cooperation-information-and-communications-technol)
Those apparently were never closed down, but their role in the past 4 years has not been visible
Those apparently were never closed down, but their role in the past 4 years has not been visible
Russia seems to be frustrated by the ineffectiveness of those hotlines in resolving bilateral issues. Last year Foreign Ministry even suggested to publish exchanges via this channel from late 2016 - early 2017, but the U.S. refused https://twitter.com/shakirov2036/status/1204543172409544704
This year @thedailybeast reported that U.S. intelligence officials saw this hotline as a last-ditch channel in case of a crisis
“It’s the option we would use if we felt like all the other options weren’t working and if the crisis was escalating quickly." https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-hotline-could-keep-the-us-and-russia-from-cyber-war
“It’s the option we would use if we felt like all the other options weren’t working and if the crisis was escalating quickly." https://www.thedailybeast.com/this-hotline-could-keep-the-us-and-russia-from-cyber-war
3) Putin suggests to "jointly develop and conclude a bilateral intergovernmental agreement on preventing incidents in the information space" similar to the 1972 Incidents at Sea (INCSEA) Agreement btw USSR & U.S.
This proposal was repeatedly made by Russian diplomats & military
This proposal was repeatedly made by Russian diplomats & military
Along with INCSEA, Russian military suggested to look at other bilateral incident prevention agreements such at the 1989 DMA and the 2015 deal on deconfliction in Syria https://twitter.com/shakirov2036/status/941453426378137600
But the idea for using INCSEA originally came from the U.S. side, and was first mentioned by Russian negotiator Andrey Krutskikh following bilateral cyber talks in 2016 (the same talks that are frozen since Feb 2018) https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/2997208
4) Putin suggests to "exchange, in a mutually acceptable format, guarantees of non-intervention into internal affairs of each other, including into electoral processes, inter alia, by means of the ICTs and high-tech methods"
Russia suggested this in 2017, and U.S. refused
Russia suggested this in 2017, and U.S. refused
Yet there was an interesting discussion on the feasibility of such a non-interference deal, see @saradzhyan https://www.russiamatters.org/analysis/us-russian-non-interference-pact-quod-licet-roosevelt-non-licet-trump
I think "guarantees of non-intervention" would be practically impossible, but talk on more specific issues related to interference could be helpful
I think "guarantees of non-intervention" would be practically impossible, but talk on more specific issues related to interference could be helpful
5) Putin suggests to all countries including the U.S. "reaching [a] global agreement on a political commitment of States on no-first-strike with the use of ICTs against each other"
It's basically a cyber equivalent of 'no first use', not something Russia has proposed before
It's basically a cyber equivalent of 'no first use', not something Russia has proposed before
Expect more details regarding the 5th proposal to be aired within the #UNCyberOEWG & elsewhere. It's not immediately clear what this will look like
Also, this one seems to contrast with Russia's previous opposition to militarization of cyberspace
Also, this one seems to contrast with Russia's previous opposition to militarization of cyberspace
Finally, the timing. This Putin's statement is probably an attempt to demonstrate good will in addressing cyber issues, and specifically to preempt allegations of meddling in the context of U.S. presidential campaign
At the same time this statement largely ignores the current debate in the United States about cybersecurity and Russia's actions in cyberspace in particular, hence it might be simply dismissed by many at this point
But I believe some points are worth discussing nonetheless
But I believe some points are worth discussing nonetheless
Interestingly, Putin's call to restore cooperation on information security with the U.S. is endorsed by @e_kaspersky because this would help fight cyber crime
I agree, but note that Putin's statement is very much focused on political stuff, not crime https://twitter.com/e_kaspersky/status/1309484710121406465
I agree, but note that Putin's statement is very much focused on political stuff, not crime https://twitter.com/e_kaspersky/status/1309484710121406465
I suppose a better way forward should indeed involve some kind of professional cooperation between law enforcement agencies fighting cybercrime, which could help build some trust
