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Former US National Security Agency and Cyber Command chief Paul Nakasone warned that the world has entered a precarious state of flux, where technology has become increasingly politicized. As the Trump administration continues to shape US cybersecurity priorities, it remains to be seen how this will impact global stability and security.
The world has entered a precarious state of flux, where technology has become increasingly politicized. The Trump administration's changes to US fiscal policy, foreign relations, and global strategy have created uncertainty around US cybersecurity priorities. Former officials, including Chris Krebs and Jen Easterly, have been removed or targeted due to their perceived disloyalty to the administration's agenda. The politicization of technology has created a conflicted environment for individuals working in the field, with concerns about neutrality and objectivity becoming increasingly difficult to maintain. The need for innovation, adaptation, and partnerships in digital defense, particularly regarding AI and cybercrime, is being emphasized.
In a recent discussion at the Defcon security conference in Las Vegas, former US National Security Agency and Cyber Command chief Paul Nakasone warned that the world has entered a precarious state of flux, where technology has become increasingly politicized. This sentiment was echoed by his interlocutor, DEFCON founder Jeff Moss, who expressed concerns about the increasing polarization of the digital landscape.
Nakasone's remarks came on the heels of a series of radical changes to US fiscal policy, foreign relations, and global strategy under the Trump administration. These shifts have created uncertainty around US cybersecurity priorities, which was on display at both Black Hat and Defcon conferences this week. The Trump administration has been combing intelligence and cybersecurity agencies to remove officials seen as disloyal to its agenda, a process that has been hostile to former US cybersecurity officials.
One notable example of this hostility is the revocation of the security clearance of former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) director Chris Krebs in April. Additionally, last week, following criticism from far-right activist Laura Loomer, the secretary of the Army rescinded an academic appointment that former CISA director Jen Easterly had been scheduled to fill at West Point.
Amidst this backdrop, Nakasone spoke about the importance of partnerships in digital defense, particularly with regards to AI and cybercrime. He acknowledged that traditional US rivals and adversaries, such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, pose significant threats to global cybersecurity. However, he also emphasized the need for innovation and adaptation in order to stay ahead of these threats.
"We are not making progress against ransomware," Nakasone stated, highlighting the need for new approaches to counter this growing threat. He also expressed concerns about the increasing politicization of technology, which has created a conflicted environment for individuals working in the field.
Moss, who has previously advocated for open source software platforms as an alternative to multinational tech companies, echoed Nakasone's sentiments on the importance of partnerships and collaboration. However, he also highlighted the need for greater diversity and representation within the tech sector, particularly in terms of age and demographic differences between the US federal government and the tech industry.
"When I was the director of NSA and commander of US Cyber Command, every single quarter I would go to the Bay or I'd go to Texas or Boston or other places to see technology," Nakasone recalled. "And every place that I went to, I was twice the age of the people that talked to me. And then when I came back to DC and I sat at the table, I was one of the younger people there. OK, that's a problem. That's a problem for our nation."
The discussion between Nakasone and Moss also touched on the topic of geopolitics and global conflicts, which are fueling uncertainty and fear around the world. Moss asked Nakasone how it is possible to remain neutral in this environment, given the increasingly politicized nature of technology.
"How do you be neutral in this environment? Can you be neutral?" Moss asked at the beginning of the conversation. "Or is the world's environment since last year, Ukraine, Israel, Russia, Iran, just take your pick, America—how does anybody remain neutral?"
Nakasone responded by acknowledging that the current state of global affairs presents significant challenges to neutrality. He suggested that the world may be entering a period where traditional notions of neutrality and objectivity are becoming increasingly difficult to maintain.
"I think we've entered a space now in the world where technology has become political," Nakasone said. "And then two days later, just by chance, [the Chinese generative AI platform] DeepSeek came out." "Amazing."
In conclusion, the recent discussion between Paul Nakasone and Jeff Moss highlights the increasingly complex and politicized landscape of global cybersecurity. As the world grapples with the challenges posed by technological advancements, geopolitical tensions, and social unrest, it is clear that neutrality will become an increasingly rare commodity in the years to come.
Former US National Security Agency and Cyber Command chief Paul Nakasone warned that the world has entered a precarious state of flux, where technology has become increasingly politicized. As the Trump administration continues to shape US cybersecurity priorities, it remains to be seen how this will impact global stability and security.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/The-Shifting-Landscape-of-Cybersecurity-A-World-on-the-Brink-ehn.shtml
https://www.wired.com/story/ex-nsa-chief-paul-nakasone-has-a-warning-for-the-tech-world/
Published: Fri Aug 8 19:24:03 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
