Cyber Statecraft Initiative
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cyberstatecraft.bsky.social
Cyber Statecraft Initiative
@cyberstatecraft.bsky.social
The Cyber Statecraft Initiative works at the nexus of geopolitics and cybersecurity to craft strategies to help shape the conduct of statecraft and to better inform and secure users of technology.
Pinned
Everything’s bigger in Texas 🤠 — including cybersecurity! #Cyber912 is coming to Austin in-person on Jan 31–Feb 1, 2026 with our partners at Strauss Center at the @UTAustin.bsky.social School of Law. Registration open till Dec 8, 2025.

🔗 Sign up here: form.jotform.com/252924286666...
Dreaming of Paris lights, cafés, and croissants? We’ll see you all in Paris, France on Jan 28–30, 2026 for #Cyber912 Paris! Strategy, networking, and pastries, what more could you want to kick off your school year? Register now!

form.jotform.com/252715245052...
November 24, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Brokers and resellers obscure vendor-client relationships and distort pricing in the spyware market 🏛 Their influence in shaping this market warrants far greater scrutiny. More in: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Mythical Beasts: Diving into the depths of the global spyware market
The second edition of the Mythical Beasts project assess how the global spyware market has developed and changed over the past year.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:30 PM
As more and more countries develop national cyber strategies, they must look outside traditional 'cybersecurity' issues areas and, for the first time, says Robert Peacock, identify procurement corruption as a cybersecurity risk. www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
The impact of corruption on cybersecurity: Rethinking national strategies across the Global South
As the Global South prepares for the next stage in ICT development, governments must prioritize policies that reduce corruption in critical network software procurement to protect those countries'…
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:15 PM
The war in Ukraine is the clearest example to date of private technology companies shaping national resilience in real time. But how did these companies actually decide whether—and how—to support Ukraine? 
 
Check out this new report to learn more: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Building the digital front line: Understanding big tech decision-making in Ukraine
Private technology companies have provided essential and often irreplaceable support to Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
US venture capital is fueling the spyware industry. Companies backed by American dollars have enabled surveillance on US officials and allies. More about how the Trump administration can combat this issue in: nationalinterest.org/blog/techlan...
Tackling the Spyware Crisis
Domestic investment in spyware is undermining national security at all levels of society.
nationalinterest.org
November 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
📅TODAY: We're holding a public, virtual discussion with Blue Star Family and VetsinTech on the different pathways to a career in tech and cybersecurity for veterans.

You can tune into the livestream here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/succes...
Success After Service: Careers in Tech and Cybersecurity for Veterans
Experts explore the different pathways from the armed services to a career in tech and cybersecurity.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:00 PM
In March, we held the 14th annual #Cyber912 Strategy Challenge, welcoming over 40 teams from across 5 countries to tackle a cyber crisis with implications for rural healthcare.

We asked teams and judges to reflect on their experience here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
Cyber policy in action: A glimpse into the 2025 DC Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge
Competitors and judges from the 2025 Washington, DC Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge share their perspectives on the competition's role in cyber workforce development.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 14, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Veterans interested in a career in tech or cybersecurity face a competitive job market— Our discussion with Blue Star Family & VetsinTech will help to guide veterans on how they can translate specific skills and experiences to tech & cyber-focused roles.

www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/succes...
November 14, 2025 at 5:03 PM
When used during times of military crisis, are cyber operations truly de-escalatory crisis offramps, or have they the potential to exacerbate an already accelerated decision making process? Michael Fischerkeller looks at the implications in this piece: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
What do we know about cyber operations during militarized crises?
Policymakers must critically examine assumptions and claims that cyber operations can serve as de-escalatory crisis offramps.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Join us on November 17 at 3:30pm ET for a public discussion, “Success After Service: Careers in Tech and Cybersecurity for Veterans,” with Blue Star Family and VetsinTech as part of our Veterans Cyber Forum.

RSVP here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/succes...
Success after service: Careers in tech and cybersecurity for veterans
Experts explore the different pathways from the armed services to a career in tech and cybersecurity.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
November 12, 2025 at 6:21 PM
We’re excited to kick off our first West Coast #Cyber912 Strategy Challenge with MIIS in beautiful Monterey, CA! Today's qualifying rounds will have 22 teams across the US. Good luck to all competitors! Learn more about the competition here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/cyb...
November 7, 2025 at 7:15 PM
#Cyber912 is heading to Paris on Jan 28–30, 2026 with the GEODE and Université Paris 8 for our 6th year. Registration is now open and closes on Dec 15, 2025. Don't miss out on this in-person Cyber 9/12! We’ll see you there - sign up today:

form.jotform.com/252715245052...
Clone of 2025 Paris Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge Registration
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:01 AM
Everything’s bigger in Texas 🤠 — including cybersecurity! #Cyber912 is coming to Austin in-person on Jan 31–Feb 1, 2026 with our partners at Strauss Center at the @UTAustin.bsky.social School of Law. Registration open till Dec 8, 2025.

🔗 Sign up here: form.jotform.com/252924286666...
November 4, 2025 at 3:19 PM
The US is the largest investor in this sample of the spyware market 💰 The implications for both national security and human rights policy are profound. The report contextualizes this trend: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
Mythical Beasts: Diving into the depths of the global spyware market
The second edition of the Mythical Beasts project assess how the global spyware market has developed and changed over the past year.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In his issue brief, fellow Robert Peacock highlights the oft-overlooked dimension of cybersecurity development - corruption in software acquisition practices. Read more here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
The impact of corruption on cybersecurity: Rethinking national strategies across the Global South
As the Global South prepares for the next stage in ICT development, governments must prioritize policies that reduce corruption in critical network software procurement to protect those countries'…
www.atlanticcouncil.org
October 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Take your next steps in cybersecurity at Black Hat Europe 2025! From specialized Trainings to insightful Briefings, ExCeL London is the place to be from Dec. 8-11 for all things cybersecurity! To learn more and register, visit www.blackhat.com/eu-25/
Black Hat Europe 2025
Black Hat Europe 2025
www.blackhat.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:03 PM
“Absent direct experience, all one can rely on is academic research”—cyber operations have never been used during a military crisis between two nuclear-armed states. What happens if this Rubicon is crossed? See this piece from Michael Fischerkeller:

www.atlanticcouncil.org/in-depth-res...
What do we know about cyber operations during militarized crises?
Policymakers must critically examine assumptions and claims that cyber operations can serve as de-escalatory crisis offramps.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
October 15, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Despite bans and sanctions, spyware companies keep thriving—with US dollars. US firms are investing in tools that harm US interests. The Trump administration can counter this problem set. Learn how in: nationalinterest.org/blog/techlan...
Tackling the Spyware Crisis
Domestic investment in spyware is undermining national security at all levels of society.
nationalinterest.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:31 PM
And that’s a wrap!
Our final standings for the 2025 New York #Cyber912 are:

🥇Husky Hackers of @Northeasternu.bsky.social
🥈 Black Knights of USMA West Point
🥉Golden Mules of USMA West Point

Congratulations to all our teams and thank you to @ColumbiaSIPA.bsky.social
October 14, 2025 at 12:01 PM
⏳ Don’t miss your chance! Be part of the first-ever #Cyber912 Monterey Challenge happening on Nov 7–8, 2025, at MIIS. Step into a fast-paced cyber crisis simulation, and sharpen your strategy skills.
📝 Register by October 13, by 11:59PM ET: form.jotform.com/Cyber_Statec...
October 13, 2025 at 2:19 PM
For the 10th annual New York City #Cyber912 with @SIPAcyber, we were joined by 21 teams from 10 states...but only 11 can advance to the semifinal round.

Check out which teams made the cut and good luck to all our semifinalists! ⬇️
October 10, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Are improvements in the security posture of open source software projects different among sources of general funding? Our initial analysis of about 2000 open-source software packages suggests the answer might be vary across software ecosystems. 🚨🔐
October 9, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Wondering what could prevent another incident like the XZ backdoor? Aeva Black suggests “A healthy dose of caution–particularly for maintainers of low-level system libraries in widespread use–is needed.” Check out the 5x5 to read more:
The 5x5—The XZ backdoor: Trust and open source software
Open source software security experts share their insights into the XZ backdoor, and what it means for open source software security.
www.atlanticcouncil.org
September 30, 2025 at 1:31 PM
@jshermcyber.bsky.social report "The Politics of Internet Security" dives into the geopolitics of the Internet, examines how governments exert influence to warp its shape, and argues why the US needs to be more active in building a safer, more secure Internet.
The politics of internet security: Private industry and the future of the web
The private sector plays a crucial role in defining the changing shape of the Internet, especially its security. This report examines two protocols as examples of private sector influence over…
www.atlanticcouncil.org
September 29, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Does more money for open source software lead to better OSS security? Causality is always hard to show, but correlation is easy! Check out our issue brief here: www.atlanticcouncil.org/content-seri...
September 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM