Growing risks of false information and the cognitive battle for the human mind – the technology in our daily lives has become an element of global politics. Will individual companies become new strategic partners for sovereign nations in the future?
This article is a summary of Unikie’s 15-minute technology podcast. In this episode, we talk to Jarno Limnéll, Member of Parliament and Cybersecurity Professor at Aalto University.
Technology has become an inseparable part of geopolitics. The relationship between technology and global politics extends far beyond high-tech defense solutions and dialogue between diplomats – it involves regular people and the technologies we use in our daily lives for communication and obtaining information, for example.
It is safe to say that geopolitics is interested in individuals that build up the masses: people just like you.
“I estimate that the biggest geopolitical struggles we will face in the future will revolve around technology. Going forward, technology will be a growing part of politics,” says Jarno Limnéll, Member of Parliament and Cybersecurity Professor at Aalto University.
Cognitive – the Fifth Operational Domain?
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Risks Report, false information is one of the main risks for nations in the next few years. Misinformation and disinformation may radically disrupt electoral processes and create a growing distrust of the media and governments as information sources.
“When communication relies on technology and the younger generations use new media channels and platforms, algorithms have more power in shaping how people view the world,” Limnéll says.
Limnéll would not be surprised if in the future NATO would assign Cognitive as the official sixth operational domain, in addition to air, land, maritime, cyberspace and space, as the battle for the human mind grows stronger.
At the same time, this development emphasizes the importance of data instead of office spaces and production lines as the vital asset for companies.
New Kinds of Strategic Partnerships
Traditionally, businesses and enterprises have spent a lot of resources in talking to nations and governments on various levels, like the UN, EU or national parliaments. Going forward, should nations and governments take a more proactive role in talking to major technology companies to form strategic partnerships?
“If you open your phone and look at the apps you use, unfortunately quite few of them are European. If we don’t have European alternatives, in which direction should we look at and what are our bargaining chips in that discussion?” Limnéll says.
In addition to nations, today the players in geopolitics also include major companies, various interest groups and even individual persons. These are now parties in discussions for forging cooperation and building networks of trust.
Which Technologies to Focus On?
There are many technologies that will play a prominent role in the future. AI, quantum computing, space technologies, and so on. As a whole, the shift driven by technology will be huge.
Due to technological fragmentation, some countries are gaining critical capabilities, while others are left behind.
So, which technologies should countries like Finland focus on? With limited resources, Finland cannot focus on everything – it needs to make strategic decisions and partner up with the right players.
However, when talking about technology, we should not forget the human element. Humans are at the center of how technology is used and while technology scales exponentially, the human mind still has its limitations.
Watch the full podcast with English subtitles below.
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