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Cyber Statecraft Initiative

@cyberstatecraft.bsky.social
163 followers 9 following 449 posts

The Cyber Statecraft Initiative works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to help shape the conduct of statecraft and to better inform and secure users of technology.

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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
The era of global pooled health datasets is ending—at least in Europe. The EU is shifting toward federated, local data infrastructure under GDPR, the AI Act, and EHDS. This report explains what comes next. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Navigating the European Union’s AI and health data framework
The EU is strengthening AI and health data governance, creating a more secure and trusted framework for innovation.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Today, like every day, would be a great day for policymakers to demand more transparency and collaboration from the biggest cloud service providers, whose infrastructure is key for many important sectors. Here's a starting point -> www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Critical infrastructure and the cloud: Policy for emerging risk
Critical infrastructure increasingly depends upon cloud computing. Policy must adapt its approach to risk management accordingly.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
And for some OSS funding and security history, check out this article from CSI nonresident senior fellow John Speed Meyers and his coauthor, Jacqueline Kazil, in Binding Hook: bindinghook.com/articles-bin...
bindinghook.com
How to ‘harden’ open-source software - Binding Hook
Much of today's critical infrastructure and military systems rely on open-source software
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Does more money for open source software lead to better OSS security? Causality is always hard to show, but correlation is easy! Check out our issue brief here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
O$$ security: Does more money for open source software mean better security? A proof of concept
A proof-of-concept study looking for correlation between open source software project funding and security practices at scale.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Corruption, power, and cybercrime are deeply intertwined in Russia. When things go wrong, even state security officers aren’t safe. Read more from Justin Sherman.
atlanticcouncil.org
Take the bribe but watch your back: Why Russia imprisoned a security officer for taking cybercriminal payoffs
Russia imprisoned a security service officer for taking bribes from cybercriminals—showing not a willingness to crack down on cybercrime, but instead just how much the Kremlin wants to maintain its…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Access-as-a-Service firms bypass arms control agreements like the Wassenaar Arrangement by hiring foreign nationals. Policymakers must understand this industry to shape and limit the spread of offensive cyber capabilities. More here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Countering cyber proliferation: Zeroing in on Access-as-a-Service
It is imperative that governments reevaluate their approach to countering the proliferation of offensive cyber capabilities.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
We ❤️ the FTC – and here’s why you should too: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
“Reasonable” cybersecurity in forty-seven cases: The Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement actions against unfair and deceptive cyber Practices
The FTC has brought 47 cases against companies for unfair or deceptive cybersecurity practices. What can we learn from them?
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Establishing access to targets can be much more difficult following the onset of kinetic conflict. As Silas Cutler said in our discussion, "Once bombs start dropping, people stop checking email." For more from this panel, check out the full video here! www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/on-bre...
atlanticcouncil.org
On Breaking Things: Melding Cyber and Kinetic in Conflict
This panel features a discussion on lethal outcomes of cyber operations, coordination between cyber and kinetic forces, and integration of cyber options in future warfare within the context of larger…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Lawmakers should reconceptualize their approach to critical infrastructure policy by considering the systemic nature of cyber risks and aligning regulation accordingly. Figure out why here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
OT cyber policy: The Titanic or the iceberg
Current policy does not address the issue of cyber-physical security with a systemic approach, instead focusing with tunnel vision on specific events. This analysis uses the iceberg model for systems…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Offensive Cyber Capabilities are proliferating through state action as well as a range of private markets. This primer explains the 5 pillars used to understand this growing threat. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Have you ever heard the saying, “there is no cloud – just other people’s computers”? Wondered about what implications that fact has for... geopolitics and state competition? Boy, do we have the piece for you: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Four myths about the cloud: The geopolitics of cloud computing
In competition and cooperation, cloud computing is the canvas on which states conduct significant political, security, and economic activity.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
For the offensive cyber capabilities market there is a "lack of transparency, insight, and monitorability of this global ecosystem when compared to physical equivalents such as small arms, chemical and radiological weapons etc." writes Ollie Whitehouse in www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
Makings of the Market: Seven perspectives on offensive cyber capability proliferation
The marketplace for offensive cyber capabilities continues to grow globally. Their proliferation poses an expanding set of risks to national security and human rights, these capabilities also have…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
How has the cyber workforce developed in the last 5 years, and where is it headed for the future? Merili Soosalu believes “legislation has evolved." Now, "more sectors are obliged to follow information & cybersecurity standards." Read more here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
The 5×5—Strengthening the cyber workforce
Experts provide insights into ways for the United States and its allies to bolster the cyber workforce.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Defenders neither detect nor deny every assault, but awareness of weaknesses will improve security and resilience. Our Broken Trust report analyzed seven past compromises to highlight security lessons and recommended changes: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Broken trust: Lessons from Sunburst
Sunburst was a startling reminder of the United States’ collective cyber insecurity and the inadequacy of current US strategy.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
In 2019, we launched a global survey to map the diverse perspectives of the aviation ecosystem to better inform the way this community can manage cyber risk amidst burgeoning cyberattack surface presented by increased digitization and connectivity. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Aviation cybersecurity: Scoping the challenge
The digital attack surface the aviation sector presents to its adversaries continues to grow in such a way that both managing risk and gaining insight on it remain difficult. With emerging…
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Reposted by Cyber Statecraft Initiative
DFRLab @dfrlab.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
🇪🇺🇺🇸 What’s next for the transatlantic tech relationship? Join us in Brussels on Oct 8 for a conversation on digital sovereignty, security, competitiveness, and the future of EU-US tech cooperation. Register to join us in person: bit.ly/4hRsSZo
atlanticcouncil.org
Transatlantic digital relations: Sovereignty, security, and competitiveness
Senior European and American policymakers and experts assess how sovereignty, security and competitiveness are reshaping the digital transatlantic relationship.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Boost transparency, limit jurisdictional loopholes, and scrutinize supplier & investor ties in the spyware market. Read on for more policy recommendations Jen Roberts, Trey Herr, and Nitansha Bansal have for the spyware market in their report here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Mythical Beasts and where to find them: Mapping the global spyware market and its threats to national security and human rights
The Mythical Beasts project pulls back the curtain on the connections between 435 entities across forty-two countries in the global spyware market.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Me, when yet another tech issues turns out to relate to the lack of digital identity infrastructure in the US: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
User in the middle: An interoperability and security guide for policymakers
When technologies work together, it benefits users and the digital ecosystem. Policymakers can advance interoperability and security in tandem by understanding how each impacts the other.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Fusion on paper or in practice? NATO doesn’t lack intelligence—it lacks speed, integration, and trust. Cloud-enabled ISR could change that. But without standards, new defense spending risks scaling fragmentation. Read more 👇 www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Fusion on paper or in practice? Making the cloud work for ISR and NATO
NATO’s eastern flank is under persistent pressure across multiple domains. The Alliance's core challenge is not sensing capacity
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Open source software plays a vital role in the software supply chain, and it's not immune to exploitation. How do attackers leverage loopholes in open source ecosystems via typosquatting and dependency confusion? What countermeasures can be taken? www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
Kink in the chain: Eight perspectives on software supply chain risk management
Software supply chain attacks are popular, impactful, and are used to great effect by malicious actors. To dive deeper on this topic, we asked eight experts about these threats and how policymakers…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The war in Ukraine is the clearest example to date of private technology companies shaping national resilience in real time. But how did these companies actually decide whether—and how—to support Ukraine?    Check out this report to learn more: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Building the digital front line: Understanding big tech decision-making in Ukraine
Private technology companies have provided essential and often irreplaceable support to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Did you read our Breaking Trust work and wonder why we didn't talk more about open source when analyzing software supply chain attacks? We wondered too, so we wrote a whole separate OSS report. Check it out here! www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Avoiding the success trap: Toward policy for open-source software as infrastructure
Open-source software (OSS) sits at the center of almost every digital technology moving the world since the early 1980s—laptops, cellphones, widespread internet connectivity, cloud computing, social…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Brokers ≠ Resellers. Brokers sell individual exploit components whereas resellers bundle, rebrand, and redeploy full products, often with training and tech support included. The distinction matters more than policymakers currently acknowledge. More in: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Mythical Beasts: Investigating the role of intermediaries in the proliferation of offensive cyber capabilities
The opacity of intermediaries in the OCC marketplace represents a discernible gap in current policy frameworks. Brokers and resellers are essential enablers and connectors of the OCC supply chain.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"Internet insecurity is a national security issue for the US and every other nation.” Read Justin Sherman’s report to better understand BGP & DNS vulnerabilities and why the US government needs to collaborate with private industry to secure it. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
The politics of internet security: Private industry and the future of the web
The private sector plays a crucial role in defining the changing shape of the Internet, especially its security. This report examines two protocols as examples of private sector influence over…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Three recommendations for companies navigating this: ➡️ Build compliance in from day one ("regulation by design") ➡️ Invest in federated data infrastructure now ➡️ Engage proactively with regulators — the rules aren't fully written yet Full brief 👇 www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Navigating the European Union’s AI and health data framework
The EU is strengthening AI and health data governance, creating a more secure and trusted framework for innovation.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
US and EU approaches are quickly diverging . The US favors open, pooled global datasets. The EU is building federated infrastructure. For companies operating on both sides of the Atlantic, parallel pipelines are becoming unavoidable.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The AI Act classifies virtually all health/pharma AI applications as "high-risk" — meaning strict requirements on training data provenance, bias mitigation, auditability, and post-deployment oversight.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The core shift: pooled global datasets are becoming a legal liability. The EU is moving toward federated, localized infrastructure. If your AI pipeline relies on mixing EU + non-EU health data, that's a problem.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The EU's GDPR + AI Act + European Health Data Space Regulation aren't just compliance check boxes they're fundamentally reshaping how health data can be used for AI and who gets access.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
New issue brief: Navigating the EU's AI & health data framework — and what it means for pharma, researchers, and anyone building with health data in Europe. 🧵 www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Navigating the European Union’s AI and health data framework
The EU is strengthening AI and health data governance, creating a more secure and trusted framework for innovation.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Open source software? In MY software liability regime?? It's .... less likely than you think. None of the articles in our dataset endorsed the idea of including open source in a potential software liability regime. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Design questions in the software liability debate
Software liability—resurgent in the policy debate since its mention in the 2023 US National Cybersecurity Strategy—describes varied potential structures to create legal accountability for vendors of…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Today: Join the Cyber Statecraft Initiative for an #ACFrontPage conversation between Pfizer Chairman & CEO Albert Bourla and Fred Kempe in New York City on AI, health & innovation. 🔗 www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/pfizer...
atlanticcouncil.org
Pfizer’s Albert Bourla on AI, health, and innovation in a changing world
Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla discusses how artificial intelligence is reshaping drug discovery and healthcare.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Generative AI might boost cyber criminals' efficiency at certain tasks, but there's not yet evidence that it can provide a step-change in their capabilities -- with a few exceptions. Read more about in our report “Hacking with AI.” www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Hacking with AI
Can generative AI help hackers? By deconstructing the question into attack phases and actor profiles, this report analyzes the risks, the realities, and their implications for policy.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Workforce development can start at home! Diana Burley emphasized the importance of clearer messaging on cybersecurity careers to help parents and teachers encourage the future cyber workforce. Watch the event here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/unleas...
atlanticcouncil.org
The National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy: Unleashing America’s cyber talent
An in-depth discussion on the opportunities, goals, and anticipated challenges with the National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
“Taking a more comprehensive look at companies that amplify the services of a spyware vendor is one way policy makers can enact more robust change in the market for spyware.” Find other recommendations for policy makers in: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Markets matter: A glance into the spyware industry
The Intellexa Consortium is a complex web of holding companies and vendors for spyware and related services. The Consortium represents a compelling example of spyware vendors in the context of the…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
“...the Cyber 9/12 challenge uniquely incorporates escalation with a limited time of response...” In this 5x5, Tionge Mughogho discusses the importance of simulated exercises like #Cyber912 for her real life cybersecurity work. www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
The 5×5—Alumni perspectives on Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
Alumni of Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge share their experiences, and discuss the impact of such simulated exercises to prepare for real life cyber attacks.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
“OSS is premised as ‘many eyes make all bugs shallow’—but that only works if the many eyes that could be looking at an OSS project are actually looking at it.” Stewart Scott weighs in on vulnerability discovery in OSS in this 5x5: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
The 5x5—The XZ backdoor: Trust and open source software
Open source software security experts share their insights into the XZ backdoor, and what it means for open source software security.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The story gets even more complicated when you look at scorecard subchecks, where most funders see a strong correlation with better scores. Read more in the full report ⬇️ www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
O$$ security: Does more money for open source software mean better security? A proof of concept
A proof-of-concept study looking for correlation between open source software project funding and security practices at scale.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
According to our O$$ report, funding with statistically significant increases in average Scorecard scores by ecosystem: 1️⃣ Python: GitHub Organizational, GitHub Individual, Tidelift, and Open Collective 2️⃣ npm: GitHub Organizational and Open Collective
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Are improvements in the security posture of open source software projects different among sources of general funding? Our initial analysis of about 2000 open-source software packages suggests the answer might be vary across software ecosystems. 🚨🔐
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Jurisdictional conflicts over data? Read how senior cybersecurity executives approach new markets amidst regulatory uncertainty in this 5x5: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
The 5×5—The evolving role of CISOs and senior cybersecurity executives
For this Cybersecurity Awareness Month, senior cybersecurity executives share their insights into the evolution of their roles.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
As more actors look to purchase offensive cyber capabilities (OCC) from private companies, the continued proliferation of OCC poses a national security threat to the US and its allies. Learn more here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Countering cyber proliferation: Zeroing in on Access-as-a-Service
It is imperative that governments reevaluate their approach to countering the proliferation of offensive cyber capabilities.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Cloud is not more inherently insecure, but risks to the security of cloud-held data can be more systematic and opaque to organizations than in on-premises data systems. Policymakers should measure and manage these risks -- while supporting cloud adoption. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
Critical infrastructure and the cloud: Policy for emerging risk
Critical infrastructure increasingly depends upon cloud computing. Policy must adapt its approach to risk management accordingly.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
It can be difficult to see the targeting impact of computer network intrusions on the battlefield. "The dialogue around the [Ukraine] war, then, has undervalued the impact of cyber," says Michael Martelle. More here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/on-bre...
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
What happens when an FSB officer takes a $1.7M bribe from Russian hackers but fails to protect them? They turn on him. CSI fellow Justin Sherman’s latest explores a rare case of the Russian state eating its own.
atlanticcouncil.org
Take the bribe but watch your back: Why Russia imprisoned a security officer for taking cybercriminal payoffs
Russia imprisoned a security service officer for taking bribes from cybercriminals—showing not a willingness to crack down on cybercrime, but instead just how much the Kremlin wants to maintain its…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Creating a counter-proliferation regime in cyberspace has confounded policymakers for years. As the number of state-sponsored cyber actors rise with the severity of cyberattacks, this issue has become even more pressing. Read our primer on OCC here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
A primer on the proliferation of offensive cyber capabilities
Offensive cyber capabilities run the gamut from sophisticated disruptions of infrastructure to malware used to target human rights journalists.
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
In this paper, authors Isabella Wright and Maia Hamin rewound the clock to look back at the history of the Federal Trade Commision’s unfair-and-deceptive cyber enforcement. Celebrate #ThrowbackThursday by checking it out: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
“Reasonable” cybersecurity in forty-seven cases: The Federal Trade Commission’s enforcement actions against unfair and deceptive cyber Practices
The FTC has brought 47 cases against companies for unfair or deceptive cybersecurity practices. What can we learn from them?
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Monica Ruiz explores the role that companies play in shaping the future of the OCC market. Be sure to check it out! www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
Makings of the Market: Seven perspectives on offensive cyber capability proliferation
The marketplace for offensive cyber capabilities continues to grow globally. Their proliferation poses an expanding set of risks to national security and human rights, these capabilities also have…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Critical infrastructure operators do not analyze the patterns, structures, and mental models that contribute to the insufficient cybersecurity within critical infrastructure. Learn more about what this means for protection of critical infrastructure here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
atlanticcouncil.org
OT cyber policy: The Titanic or the iceberg
Current policy does not address the issue of cyber-physical security with a systemic approach, instead focusing with tunnel vision on specific events. This analysis uses the iceberg model for systems…
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Cyber Statecraft Initiative @cyberstatecraft.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Responding to crisis scenarios requires adaptability and quick thinking. See how #Cyber912 competitors fared: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
atlanticcouncil.org
Cyber policy in action: A glimpse into the 2025 DC Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
Competitors and judges from the 2025 Washington, DC Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge share their perspectives on the competition's role in cyber workforce development.
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