In a speech at the third Summit for Democracy held in Seoul, South Korea, U.S. Secretary of State highlighted the critical role of technology in sustaining democratic values. He expressed concerns about authoritarian regimes leveraging technologies to undermine democracy and human rights, emphasizing the need for technology to align with democratic principles.
The summit, a U.S.-led initiative, aims to revitalize democracy and promote the benefits of democratic governance over autocracies. President Joe Biden's proposal for the summit during his 2020 campaign underscores the administration's commitment to strengthening democratic institutions.
As the summit commenced, six additional countries joined an American-led consortium focused on countering the misuse of commercial spyware. This collaborative effort includes countries such as Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Poland, and South Korea, in addition to existing members.
The misuse of spyware to target activists, diplomats, and journalists has become a growing concern for the U.S. government. Recent sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department on individuals and a commercial spyware company reflect a significant step in addressing this issue.
During the summit, discussions between U.S. and South Korean officials also touched upon matters related to North Korea and the U.S.-South Korea alliance. The meeting underscored the importance of cooperation between the two countries on regional security issues.
