US sets up Bureau of Cyberspace & Digital Policy
CDP to address national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for US values associated with the digital world
The US Department of State’s Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy (CDP) began operations on Monday. Its goal is to address the national security challenges, economic opportunities, and implications for US values associated with cyberspace, digital technologies, and digital policies.
The bureau will ultimately be led by a Senate-confirmed Ambassador-at-Large, and until then will be helmed by Jennifer Bachus, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, who assumed the role of Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. Her latest position was Deputy Chief of Mission at the US embassy in Prague.
Bachus also speaks Russian, a skill that will undoubtedly come in handy for this new position.
The CDP bureau includes three policy units: International Cyberspace Security; International Information and Communication Policy; and Digital Freedom, with a designated assistant secretary for each one.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who officially launched the bureau, tweeted: ““Proud to launch @StateCDP today. With partners around the world and across the US government, our newest bureau will carry on the @StateDept’s work to ensure the digital revolution happening around us serves out people, protects our interests, and upholds our values.”
“As what is happening in Ukraine and Russia illustrates, we’re in a contest over the rules, infrastructure, and standards that will define our digital future,” Blinken said at the launch, calling on democracies to come together and put universal rights and values at the center of the digital future.