On October 1, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at Brookings held a roundtable discussion as part of its Asia Transnational Threats Forum series. The conversation focused on cybersecurity and cyber resilience in the age of COVID-19. Previous events honed in on cybersecurity, counterterrorism, and climate security. In line with this year’s objective to explore the impact of digital technologies on Asia’s security, economy, and political dynamics, the roundtable examined how technological tools have enabled social connections and successful management of the pandemic. The experts also explored how growing reliance on digital platforms has opened opportunities for increased cyberattacks and raised questions about data collection and privacy.
Jung H. Pak, Brookings senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies, opened the discussion by noting an increased reliance on digital technologies amid the pandemic. She pointed to recent reports about upticks in cyberattacks around the globe, as more people on digital platforms increased the arena for cyber actors to exploit. She also observed growing concerns over countries’ use of technology to…