Technology
Japan’s 5G ambitions with the Quad
Japan appears to be using the Quad to pursue its ambitions to promote domestic 5G network players.5G, or “advanced telecommunications” and “critical and emerging technology” in…
Byte-sized diplomacy: Privacy is alive and clicking
Got a big question on technology and security for “Byte-sized Diplomacy”. Send it through here.Question: Is it possible to protect privacy in a world of networks and surveillance…
Cable ties: Defending seabed lines of communication
Australia is yet to adequately grapple with the unique challenges that critical seabed infrastructure protection poses to its defence and national security.In Europe, recent…
Byte-sized diplomacy: AI-enabled elections or deepfake democracy?
Got a big question on technology and security for “Byte-sized Diplomacy”. Send it through here.We are hearing a lot about AI and elections, should we be concerned?Elections are a…
Tariffs, data security and global collaboration: Navigating the geopolitics of electric vehicles
Tariffs have long been wielded as a tool of economic warfare, a means to undercut the advantages of rivals’ exports. The spotlight of global trade disputes has most recently swung…
Byte-sized diplomacy: Should Australia ban TikTok?
This is the first edition of “Byte-sized diplomacy” as a new column featuring on The Interpreter. I spent much of my 17-year government career looking at how emerging threats and…
When cyber defence involves attack: Issues for Australia
From hacks targeting our medical services and health providers and theft of personal information and credit cards, it seems we can’t go long without a crack appearing in Australia…
Rare earths vs rarer resources: Global ripples from Australia’s divestment decision
The Australian government has issued a directive for five foreign companies with links to China to divest their stakes in Northern Minerals Limited within two months. The mining…
Indonesia’s digital drive gets big tech backing
Two US technology tycoons and one British political luminary made separate visits to Jakarta in April, met Joko “Jokowi” Widodo at the presidential palace, and pitched projects…
The cable shortage: Plugging in offshore wind farms
Australia’s late entry into the offshore wind market is a welcome development for clean energy advocates. The federal government this month issued what it has called the first…