For at least a decade and a half, Chinese hackers have conducted a widespread campaign of industrial cyber espionage, targeting private sector companies in an effort to steal intellectual property, trade secrets and other information that could help China become economically more competitive.

This document outlines the steps the U.S government is taking to advance an open, secure, interoperable and reliable cyberspace. Given the interconnected and global nature of cyberspace, the State Department engages in key diplomatic and programmatic initiatives to support many key objectives reflected in this strategy.

With around 50,000 ships at sea or in port at any one time, the maritime transport industry is highly exposed to cyberattacks. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) reacted quickly in introducing guidelines in response to terrorist attacks on shipping, but has arguably been slower in formulating appropriate cybersecurity regulations.

This paper forms part of a research project that examines cybercrime laws in the member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). Its aim is to assess whether these laws are fit for purpose, and to gauge their impact on the economy, security and civil liberties.

In the future, the quest to achieve an advantage in emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, will only intensify. This report argues that the U.S and Australia must look to enhance their own competitiveness in these strategic technologies.