The online sphere is already ubiquitous and is increasingly taking over functions fromour daily lives. With the amount of data that we feed into it - via our phones, tablets, laptops, credit cards - the need for responsibility and accountability in cyberspace increases. Governments and international institutions have so far not been well-equipped to deal with the challenges and threats arising from billions of people - some with more or less benevolent agendas - using the internet every single day. Switzerland, with its embrace of state-of-the art technology, a prime economic hub, and a growingly political active youth, would be well-placed to lead the conversation on probably the biggest threat that societies will face for generations to come. Through a civil-society approach, tech-savvy groups and think tanks, as well as rights-based groups (women's rights, LBTQ+, children, etc.), can contribute to the dialogue on how and who to protect online. That is why we are advocating for a community and council for cybersecurity initiative.

Framing of the Issue: 

• Cybersecurity concerns us all, but what exactly is the impact of insecurity?
• Many countries are facing the same issues as Switzerland concerning their sovergnity
• Individuals at the same time vulnerable to cyberattacks (hacking, mobbing, mis-/disinformation) as well as potentially holding a lot of power if they themselves are capable of conducting cyberattacks
• Link to dis-/misinformation
• Technology regulation: new legal area for everyone, common interest for solutions?
• Neutrality: bring dialogue (eg. Russia, China, US)

Instruments:

Switzerland (Geneva) as hub for convening on issues around cybersecurity

Side events, conferences, and informal meetings on what cybersecurity is and how important it is

• Build up on existing SC Resolutions (women, peace and security/ youth, peace and security)

Boottom up / "Feminist" foreign policy:

• Human rights
• people centred
• equality / inclusion
• Youth

Partners for Switzerland: 

• ETH, EPFL
• Corporations that have experience in cybersecurity and can share lessons learned
• UK, US, France as permanent members, EU in general (big reach out to cooperations from US, corporations, stronger regulation on data privacy and rights). Maybe also Australia due to the recent decision about making Facebook pay for content of media outlets that they share on their platform
• As a more 'neutral' country could have better avenue to work with countries that are not necessarily 'Western allies'
• “Feminist” think tanks from Switzerland, women's organisations (more community-oriented than think tanks)
• Youth: as digital natives
• UN Youth Envoy

Questions:

• How to deal with big corporations as Google, Facebook, Amazon etc. --> potential allies or enemies? how to include them in the process?