Submit your essay to the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition by January 2, 2025.
The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
Binding Edge
Announcing the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
Munich Security Conference (MSC) and Binding Hook proudly announce the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition, inviting experts to explore the impact of Artificial Intelligence on cybersecurity. This competition seeks insightful analyses on the implications for Europe and recommendations for policymakers, with an opportunity for winners to be recognized at an international forum
How African states challenge cyber superpowers
Countries such as Libya and Ethiopia are using digital technology to advance their interests in cyberspace
Binding Edge
When tech markets fail, lemons prevail
EU legislation aims to tackle IT security but will be ineffective unless it addresses the market dominance of tech giants
Binding Edge
Can lawyers lose wars by stifling cyber capabilities?
Intelligence experts argue that stringent legal frameworks weaken the effectiveness of Western cyber defence capabilities
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year… to catch up on your cyber fiction
Alexandra Paulus / Eugenia Lostri / Jiro Minier / Thomas Reinhold / Sara Ann Brackett / Nils Brinker / Simona Autolitano / Elena Rückheim / Taylor Grossman 12 December 2024
Want to take a break from reading about AI, cybersecurity, and digital surveillance for work and instead do it for fun over the holidays? We’ve got you covered
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Predatory Sparrow: cyber sabotage with a conscience?
James Shires / Max Smeets / Hannah-Sophie Weber 9 December 2024
An understudied ‘hacktivist’ group conducts cyberattacks against Iran that clearly violate international norms – but claims to demonstrate ethical restraint
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David Edelman examines deterrence, law, and norms to restrain cyber conflict
Emily Otto 3 December 2024
A deep dive into strategic and legal frameworks, ‘Rethinking Cyber Warfare’ assesses whether states can truly control cyber warfare and limit digital threats to security
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Why hostage negotiation tactics don’t work on ransomware
Max Smeets 28 November 2024
Max Smeets unpacks the key differences between ransomware attacks and hostage-taking, explaining why ransomware operators feel no pressure to make concessions while victims grow increasingly desperate
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Is ransomware really organised crime?
Max Smeets 25 November 2024
Without the need for monopolies, territory, or violence, ransomware groups have more similarities to tech start-ups than the mafia
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A new ‘turning point’ for Germany’s cyber posture?
Matthias Schulze 22 November 2024
The 2022 invasion of Ukraine led to major updates to German defence policy, but cyber defence is still lacking
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Freelance cyber networks fuel North Korean nuclear ambitions
Chandana Seshadri 19 November 2024
North Korean freelancers generate millions through global cyber platforms, bypassing sanctions to fund Pyongyang’s programmes
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What does critical cybersecurity look like?
Noran Fouad 14 November 2024
‘Critical Perspectives on Cybersecurity: Feminist and Postcolonial Interventions,’ edited by Anwar Mhajne and Alexis Henshaw, broadens the scope of cybersecurity research by highlighting marginalised voices and overlooked issues
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Pell Mell or Pas Mal? Governing commercial cyber intrusion capabilities
James Shires 11 November 2024
Binding Hook Managing Editor James Shires puts forward principles for how states should govern cyber-intrusion technologies
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Provincial governments play an underappreciated role in China’s cyber operations
Joseph Christian Agbagala 5 November 2024
Provincial intelligence branches have specialised skills that enhance China’s cybersecurity and overall posture
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Can lawyers lose wars by stifling cyber capabilities?
An Anonymous European Intelligence Official 23 July 2024
Intelligence experts argue that stringent legal frameworks weaken the effectiveness of Western cyber defence capabilities
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Russia’s UN cyber treaty is a warning for the future of the internet
Mark Raymond / Justin Sherman 2 October 2024
The UN prepares to pass a controversial cybercrime treaty, signalling a shift toward authoritarian control of the internet and forcing democracies into difficult choices
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The dilemmas of weapons in space are illuminated from the archives
Juliana Suess 18 September 2024
Aaron Bateman’s “Weapons in Space” is a history book that enlightens the current debates about space security, making it a must-read for anyone looking for orientation on current arms control in space
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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.