Binding Edge
Ghosts in the machine and the hidden dangers of autopoiesis
The foundations on which the digital world is predicated are brittle. Carelessly introducing AI-generated code into this structure risks further widening its fault lines
Binding Edge
Responsible AI principles in an ‘apolitical’ industry
In an industry that considers itself ‘not a place to debate politics’, creating responsible AI principles can be difficult
Binding Edge
The narrow case for cyber insurance backstops
Government backstops don’t make sense for cyber risk, except as a stimulus for market activity
Freelance cyber networks fuel North Korean nuclear ambitions
North Korean freelancers generate millions through global cyber platforms, bypassing sanctions to fund Pyongyang’s programmes
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Ghosts in the machine and the hidden dangers of autopoiesis
Jack Goldsmith 14 February 2025
The foundations on which the digital world is predicated are brittle. Carelessly introducing AI-generated code into this structure risks further widening its fault lines
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Combatting AI cybersecurity risks with digital identity verification
Bessie O'Dell 14 February 2025
As humans and AI become harder and harder to tell apart, there is room for Europe to lead the way in creating secure, democratic digital spaces
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Preparing for the coming AI cyber storm
Gil Baram 14 February 2025
The rise of artificial intelligence brings new risks and new tools for cybersecurity. Collaboration, risk assessment, and intelligence sharing can help the EU prepare and defend
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How AI can help fulfil the promises of Europe’s Cyber Resilience Act
Christopher Covino 14 February 2025
To deliver on Europe's Cyber Resilience Act, policymakers must work to unlock AI's potential to reduce vulnerabilities and create a more secure software ecosystem
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The AI question in cybersecurity
Sebastian Garcia 14 February 2025
AI is rewriting cybersecurity, reshaping attacks, defences, and jobs. Europe must act fast – adopting smarter policies, boosting AI diversity, and rethinking education – to stay ahead
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The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition: Winning Essays Out Now
Max Smeets 14 February 2025
It’s time! Binding Hook and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) are pleased to share the winning essays from the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
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Cyber insurance is no silver bullet for cybersecurity
Rodney Adriko / Jason R.C. Nurse 10 February 2025
Regulators and businesses hope cyber insurance will drive stronger security practices. In reality, a narrow focus on mitigating financial loss makes it an unreliable solution
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Unpacking the vicious cycle of climate change and digital security
Katharine Palmer 4 February 2025
Greater understanding of the interdependent relationship between climate change and the connected world is needed if we are to combat this existential threat
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Can Europe and the US under Trump find unity in cybersecurity?
Celien De Stercke / Artem Galushko 29 January 2025
The re-election of Donald Trump has added pressure to the already strained relationship between Europe and the US. Mutual digital interdependence offers a critical opportunity to strengthen ties through shared cybersecurity efforts, fostering resilience and cooperation in an increasingly fragmented world
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The Forgotten War: Ransomware and Cyber Conflict Studies
Sara Seppanen / Jamie MacColl 22 January 2025
Scholars of cyber conflict have largely ignored the rise of ransomware as a national security threat. Counter-ransomware strategies would benefit from further interrogation from this community
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The story behind the uncovering of the Pegasus spyware scandal
Stella Blumfelde / Kamil Bojarski / James Shires / Max Smeets 24 October 2024
Pegasus: How a Spy in Your Pocket Threatens the End of Privacy, Dignity, and Democracy by Laurent Richard and Sandrine Rigaud depicts the tireless efforts of journalists and researchers that revealed the abuses of Pegasus spyware
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Blockchain intelligence and the emerging geopolitics of crypto
Sujit Raman 17 October 2024
As global tensions rise, blockchain intelligence reveals how nations like Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China use cryptocurrencies to fund cyberattacks, evade sanctions, and support illicit agendas
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Reading between the lies: using leak sites to analyse ransomware trends
Janina Inauen / Max Smeets 1 November 2024
Leak site data is a tempting source for researchers, but it must be used cautiously. Selection biases, inaccuracy, and manipulation by ransomware groups all pose risks
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Terms and Conditions for the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition

Introduction

The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition (the “Competition”) is organized by Virtual Routes (“Virtual Routes”) in partnership with the Munich Security Conference (“MSC”). It is sponsored by Google (the “Sponsor”). By entering the Competition, participants agree to these Terms and Conditions (T&Cs).

Eligibility

The Competition is open to individuals worldwide who are experts in the fields of cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (“AI”). Participants must ensure that their participation complies with local laws and regulations.

Submission Guidelines

Essays must address the question: “How will Artificial Intelligence change cybersecurity, and what are the implications for Europe? Discuss potential strategies that policymakers can adopt to navigate these changes.”

Submissions must be original, unpublished works between 800-1200 words, excluding footnotes but including hyperlinks for references.

Essays must be submitted by 2 January 2025, 00:00 am CET., through the official submission portal provided by Virtual Routes.

Only single-authored essays are accepted. Co-authored submissions will not be considered.

Participants are responsible for ensuring their submissions do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of third parties.

Judging and Awards

Essays will be judged based on insightfulness, relevance, originality, clarity, and evidence by a review board comprising distinguished figures from academia, industry, and government.

The decision of the review board is final and binding in all matters related to the Competition.

Prizes are as follows: 1st Place: €10,000; Runner-Up: €5,000; 3rd Place: €2,500; 4th-5th Places: €1,000 each. The winner will also be invited to attend The Munich Security Conference

Intellectual Property Rights

The author retains ownership of the submitted essay.

By submitting the essay, the author grants Virtual Routes exclusive, royalty-free rights to use, reproduce, publish, distribute, and display the essay for purposes related to the Competition, including but not limited to educational, promotional, and research-related activities.

The author represents, warrants, and agrees that no essay submitted as part of the essay prize competition violates or infringes upon the rights of any third party, including copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or other personal or proprietary rights, breaches, or conflicts with any obligation, such as a confidentiality obligation, or contains libellous, defamatory, or otherwise unlawful material.

The author agrees that the organizers can use your name (or your pseudonym) and an image of you in association with your essay for purposes of publicity, promotion and any other activity related to the exercise of its rights under these Terms.

The organizers may remove any essay-related content from its platforms at any time and without explanation.

The organizers may block contributions from particular email or IP addresses without notice or explanation.

The organizers may enable advertising on its platforms and associated social media accounts, including in connection with the display of your essay. The organizers may also use your Material to promote its products and services.

The organizers may, at its sole discretion, categorise Material, whether by means of ranking according to popularity or by any other criteria.

Data Protection

Personal information collected in connection with the Competition will be processed in accordance with Virtual Routes’ Privacy Policy. Participants agree to the collection, processing, and storage of their personal data for the purposes of the Competition.

Liability and Indemnity

Virtual Routes, MSC, and the Sponsor will not be liable for any damages arising from participation in the Competition, except where prohibited by law.

Participants agree to indemnify Virtual Routes, MSC, and the Sponsor against any claims, damages, or losses resulting from a breach of these T&Cs.

General Conditions

Virtual Routes reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Competition or these T&Cs if fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond Virtual Routes’ reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by Virtual Routes in its sole discretion.

Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Competition may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, Virtual Routes reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Governing Law

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the United Kingdom, without regard to its conflict of law principles. Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms and Conditions, including any question regarding its existence, validity, or termination, shall be referred to and finally resolved by the courts of the United Kingdom. The participants agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in the United Kingdom for the resolution of all disputes arising from or related to these Terms and Conditions or the Competition.