Digital technology: Public diplomacy 2.0

Digital technology: Public diplomacy 2.0 | Daily Tribune

Discussions about digital technology first emerged in 2007 when a group of diplomatic veterans and foreign ministers experimented with the concept. Since then, the debate about the use of technology in the realms of public diplomacy has been so diverse, with some limiting its definition from digitizing the operations of the diplomatic offices and application of social media tools to analyzing big data sets.

To be sure, the evolution of diplomacy in the digital age is entirely different from digital diplomacy, with the former focusing on conducting diplomacy the traditional way but in a digital environment. In contrast, digital diplomacy defines diplomacy as a different new 'animal.'

In an interview with former National Privacy Commission chairperson Raymund Liboro over the Daily Tribune's digital show "Straight Talk", he advanced the idea that the Philippines should initiate a serious regional discussion on digital diplomacy as a deterrent to using technology as a "tool for aggression."

"We are seeing the threat of cyber warfare as real," Liboro said. "There may be nations involved in cyber warfare now that we don't know of, and they may have various reasons to do so."

Some of the reasons could be not to exfiltrate data from a hacked server but to cripple the operations or the development of specific technologies.

Liboro proposes that the Marcos administration launch an initiative to promote a cyber non-aggression treaty among countries. He advised President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to start the initiative with the ASEAN region to denounce cyber warfare as a tool for aggression.

"Our president can initiate that in the ASEAN to start discussions within the region first. This new form of diplomacy could be our country's testament that we will not employ any cyber methods to attack another nation," he said.

Cyber warfare

Cyber warfare is typically referred to as a series of attacks or actions by an organization or nation against another nation, institution, or computer network to wreak havoc on civilian and government infrastructure and disrupt critical systems. It is aimed at destroying, damaging, or disrupting infrastructure by employing denial-of-service or virus attacks that could damage the target state or loss of life.

The attack could take many forms, but cyber warfare primarily involves destroying or destabilizing vital systems.

There are several stages of attacks in a cyber war. The typical targets are:

1. Financial infrastructure;

2. Public infrastructure, including power grids and dams;

3. Safety infrastructure like early warning systems and traffic signals; and

4. Military structures or organizations.

There are seven types of cyber warfare: Espionage, sabotage, denial-of-service attack, electrical power grid, propaganda, economic disruption, and surprise cyberattack.

The evolution and advancement in digital technologies profoundly impact on how we live and how we conduct diplomacy. Diplomats and embassies must embrace digital tools and platforms to realign their policies in the new environment where diplomacy is practiced.

Digital technology has also enabled diplomats to use digital tools to engage their counterparts to start talks seriously on eliminating the threat of cyber wars in warfare while overcoming the limitations of traditional diplomacy.

Collaboration with emerging technological powerhouses, like the U.S., China, Japan, Russia, and South Korea, to promote cross-cultural dialog will be the first step to ending digital technology's use as an aggression tool.

"The president has declared the Philippines is a 'friend to all and an enemy to none.' This is a perfect start to initiate digital diplomacy at the ASEAN level. Let the ASEAN show how to do it because the threat is real. Cyber aggression is happening, with some states employing cyber warfare with different approaches.