The TechPlomacy Approach
Third, the transformative nature of emerging technologies combined with the rise of powerful non-state actors are shaping foreign policy and geopolitics in new ways. As an example, Artificial Intelligence is rapidly becoming a battlefield in a shifting global balance of power, cyber security have risen to top of the national security agenda, and 5G networks have become a contested issue internationally. As the Center for Long Term Cyber Security at UC Berkeley points out: ‘Digital geopolitics is no longer a layer superimposed on conventional geopolitics; digital is creating new alignments among new actors, and not only states.’
For a government to rely solely on traditional diplomatic relations to bring home knowledge, promote its interest and safeguard values abroad, no longer seems sufficient. The TechPlomacy initiative was launched by the Danish government in 2017. The purpose of the initiative was first elaborated in the Government’s Foreign and Security Policy Strategy 2017-18. The mandate cut across foreign and security policy, including cyber, development policy, export and investment promotion, and a range of sector policies – as well across Denmark’s bilateral relations with other countries and in the EU and multilateral fora.
There are two overall aspects in the operationalization of TechPlomacy:(i) Like all other embassies we bring forward concerns or questions on behalf of Danish authorities in a direct and frank dialogue with the tech companies in order to try and influence the direction of technology and our own preparedness. (ii) Influence the international agenda around tech policy questions in accordance with Danish interests and values, including through new alliances, multilateral fora, and multi-stakeholder partnerships.
The topics we deal with on a daily basis range from cyber security and disinformation, combating terrorism online and exploring the effects of deep fakes, to digital taxation, protecting privacy online, responsible artificial intelligence and data ethics. On behalf of Danish authorities, we also engage on a number of specific sectorial questions. What should we expect from autonomous vehicles in the coming years, how will CRISPR technology change the nature of health care, and how can we integrate dynamic data from Internet of Things in our public data infrastructure in a safe and effective way. Through traditional diplomatic cables - as well as more modern forms of communication such as social media, and videos – we aim to bring home insights on these and other topics to Danish policy makers and other stakeholders.