US government launches Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy to enhance cybersecurity across nation

Jessica Haworth 05 April 2022 at 15:30 UTC

Department will be tasked with addressing the security challenges and opportunities associated with cyberspace

The US Department of State has launched the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) to address challenges within the cybersecurity space.

In a statement published yesterday (April 4), the government announced that the bureau will “address the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for US values associated with cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policy”.

The CDP bureau includes three policy units: International Cyberspace Security, International Information and Communications Policy, and Digital Freedom, the release reads.

The department will be led by Jennifer Bachus, who is serving as principal deputy assistant secretary until an ambassador-at-large is confirmed at a later date.

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The bureau’s mission is to lead and coordinate the Department of State’s work on cyberspace and digital diplomacy “to encourage responsible state behavior in cyberspace and advance policies that protect the integrity and security of the infrastructure of the Internet, serve US interests, promote competitiveness, and uphold democratic values”.

It adds: “The bureau addresses the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and values considerations presented by cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policy and promotes standards and norms that are fair, transparent, and support our values.”

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This news comes weeks after the US and Canada reinstated the Cross-Border Crime Forum to discuss cybercrime and further cooperation on cross-border crimes.

“Given the interconnectedness of US and Canadian industry and economies, we affirm our shared commitment to work bilaterally to combat common cyber threats, such as ransomware attacks, and to strengthen critical infrastructure cybersecurity and resilience,” the release reads.

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