Democracy and security in the digital age

As part of the on-going 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) in Hanoi, the discussion of democracy in the digital age and cyber warfare has raised new issues attracting public interest both in Vietnam and the world.

The internet is a great intellectual achievement of humankind, one of the measures of democracy and openness of a country. The digital age has permitted the expansion of democratic rights with wider connotations and forms of expression, especially for the freedom of thought, speech, access, and sharing of information, along with increased social interaction. Social networking sites enable the faster and wider distribution of information and political messages, while facilitating the exchange of people’s opinions and shaping public opinion.

At the same time, the digital age has also ushered in political, economic and military conflicts on a new scale, in a new form and with new consequences. Impersonation and abuse of democracy and personal freedom can lead to the spread of distorted and falsified information, or theft of personal and corporate information. At the same time, bigoted comments and stricter control over cyberspace and personal information in the name of security can restrict democracy, and violate freedom and privacy with unexpected consequences.

Moreover, in the digital age, countries, enterprises and individuals have become more and more dependent on the internet, making information infrastructure a new vulnerable target of attack. It is a new non-traditional security challenge, both national and global, to prevent cyber warfare and ensure information security. Messages delivered at the IPU-132 have warned that cyber warfare is one of the great threats facing us in the modern time — a war without boundaries, space and time with unforeseen effect, danger and complexity. The war has no guns and sheds no blood but can cause fatal consequences.

Many countries are facing and suffering from the severe consequences of online attacks to such an extent that can shake the entire economy. Cybercrimes can be put into the group of the greatest national security threats, the same as terrorist attacks, biological weapons and nuclear disasters.

The above-mentioned non-traditional security threat requires new awareness and new coping strategies based on laws. Ensuring network security must work in tandem with respecting human rights, personal privacy and freedom. Countries should come to a global definition of cyber warfare and cybercrime; strengthen legislative activity, national and international supervision; commit to respecting countries online security; build a mechanism and code of conduct to promote mutually beneficial cooperation in exchanging information, monitoring; and responding to information and network security incidents. They should also work to perfect institutions to ensure democracy, access to information and security of personal information; educate people on how to filter out information and take responsibility for their words, and protect information about their own personal life as well as other people’s privacy and freedom.

As an active official member of the IPU since 1979, the National Assembly of Vietnam will continue to do its best, together with parliaments of other countries, to perfect legal frameworks, turn words into action, ensure democracy and network security, and prevent threats to personal privacy and freedom in the digital age, for a world of peace, democracy, cooperation and sustainable development.

(Source: nhandan.org.vn)