Seoul―The 5th Cybersecurity Policy Forum―Cybersecurity experts from South Korea, the United States, and Japan stressed the need for international cybersecurity cooperation to strengthen protection against cyber threats.
At the 5th Cybersecurity Policy Forum in Seoul on Tuesday, three experts discussed their countries’ digital information strategies for tracking cybercrime. They highlighted the need to enhance global partnerships to safeguard individuals’ data and privacy in the face of cyber threats. The forum is organized by the National Security Research Institute (NSR), which focuses on researching and developing national security initiatives in South Korea.
William Cobb, Deputy Minister Counselor for Economic Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul, stated that the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act enables foreign partners to access electronic evidence for cybercrime investigations through bilateral agreements with the United States. The law aims to protect individuals’ privacy and promote international human rights.
Cobb noted that the CLOUD Act is intended to facilitate international cooperation. Unlike the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT), which requires complicated approval processes between governments to obtain digital evidence, the CLOUD Act streamlines the procedure and allows for faster investigations of serious cybercrimes, including terrorism, drug trafficking, and child exploitation. Data collected by global technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services in the U.S. and other countries enables direct access to information for criminal investigations.
“One particularly inaccurate statement about the act circulating in some circles is that the law is designed solely to serve the U.S.,” Cobb said. “In truth, the law was developed in response to our foreign law enforcement partners, who expressed a need for increased speed in obtaining evidence held by the United States. These agreements will make citizens in both nations safer while also ensuring a high level of protection for their rights,” Cobb added.
Motohiro Tsuchiya, Vice President for Global Engagement and Information Technology at Keio University, presented on Japan’s cyber defense history over the past 20 years. He noted that Japan’s previous strategy focused solely on defense. However, after experiencing several cyberattacks, including the 2015 breach of 1.25 million pension records, the country recognized the need to defend cyberspace more effectively. Japan is now concentrating on enhancing its capabilities to counter cyberattacks.
In addition, Motohiro emphasized that international cooperation is vital for strengthening Japan’s cyber defenses. He explained that to combat cybercrime, including disinformation and fake news, countries must enhance their artificial intelligence and infrastructure networks. Furthermore, global collaboration is crucial for protecting national security and privacy.
Yoon Hae-sung, Senior Research Fellow in the Legal Policy Research Division at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, stated that achieving effective international cooperation in responding to cybercrime is challenging due to legal differences and complexities among countries.
In South Korea, processing international cybercrime requests takes an average of six months to a year. Yoon expressed concern that, during this time, evidence may be deleted, hindering swift responses. He noted that Germany has enacted legislation to preserve evidence related to cybercrime, while countries like South Korea and Japan still have incomplete legislation on this issue.
Furthermore, countries have varying laws regarding cybercrime, meaning that actions considered legal in one country may be illegal in another. Yoon noted ongoing discussions at the United Nations about collaborative efforts to address this issue; however, many practical challenges remain. He emphasized the need for rapid data preservation and the establishment of an effective legal framework for international cooperation to resolve these problems.
