Good afternoon everyone, I’m sorry I can’t join you in person, but I am delighted to join my good friend, Minister Delegate Haddad, in participating virtually.
And I’m hugely grateful to France for hosting this conference – testament to our strong friendship and commitment to global security, which we are demonstrating in so many ways at the present time.
And I am glad that this is bringing together so many experts from government, the private sector, academia, and civil society.
Your diverse perspectives are crucial in tackling a major challenge of our time – the proliferation and irresponsible use of cyber intrusion capabilities.
In this dangerous era of contest and competition, cyber threats are testing our security and resolve on a daily basis.
Of course, new technologies bring vast opportunities for security, prosperity, and democracy.
Yet, they also make us more vulnerable to criminals, hackers, and reckless hostile states. And intrusive tools are becoming cheaper and more accessible.
While these tools play a vital role in protecting our national and cyber security, they also bring significant challenges, as you all know.
It is easier than ever for those who do not share our values to target human rights defenders, politicians, and journalists, among many others.
We have also seen reckless attacks on our governments, our parliaments and critical infrastructure – from banks and power grids to hospitals and defence systems.
And that’s why I’m so pleased you will be working together to address these threats and get the balance right.
Since the first Pall Mall Process meeting last year, we’ve made real progress.
So today, I’m proud to announce a major step forward – the formal launch of our new Code of Practice for governments.
This bold package of commitments will help us to regulate the market, mitigating against harms that hacking tools can cause.
And this will be good for us as States – making it easier to protect national security while ensuring a stable cyberspace.
And it will be good for the industry too. By providing a clear view of what responsible activity looks like, we can make it easier for legitimate companies to operate in the right way.
But this commitment must translate into action.
Over the coming days, we must focus on how to put these measures into practice, track progress, and hold ourselves accountable.
This is how we can protect our citizens and ensure that cyberspace remains free, open, peaceful, and secure.
I wish you all the best for your discussions and I very much look forward to hearing the outcomes.
Merci beaucoup, thank you very much.
