The International Strategy for Cyberspace calls for the U.S. government to work with its global counterparts in securing cyberspace, according to White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt.
“The United States will build an international environment that ensures global networks are open to new innovations, interoperable the world over, secure enough to support people’s work, and reliable enough to earn their trust. To achieve it, we will build and sustain an environment in which norms of responsible behavior guide states’ actions, sustain partnerships, and support the rule of law”, Schmidt said in unveiling the strategy.
In the area of network security, the United States undertakes to promote international cyberspace cooperation, particularly on norms of behavior for states and in a range of multilateral organizations and multinational partnerships; reduce intrusions into and disruptions of US networks; ensure robust incident management, resiliency, and recovery capabilities for information infrastructure; and improve the security of the high-tech supply chain, in consultation with industry.
In the area of combating cybercrime, the US government commits to participate in international cybercrime policy development; harmonize cybercrime laws internationally by expanding accession to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime; focus cybercrime laws on combating illegal activities, not restricting access to the internet; and deny terrorists and other criminals the ability to exploit the internet for operational planning, financing, or attacks.
To protect online privacy, the US government pledges to collaborate with civil society and nongovernment organizations to establish safeguards protecting their internet activity from unlawful digital intrusions and encourage international cooperation for effective commercial data privacy protections.
“With our partners around the world, we will work to create a future for cyberspace that builds prosperity, enhances security, and safeguards openness in our networked world. This is the future we seek, and we invite all nations, and peoples, to join us in that effort”, Schmidt concluded.