Submit your essay to the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition by January 2, 2025.
The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
Read more
Main Logo Expert commentary on tech and security
Binding Edge
Max Smeets
 • 4 November 2024
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
Hooked On Trends
Nate Allen
 • 24 September 2024
How African states challenge cyber superpowers
Countries such as Libya and Ethiopia are using digital technology to advance their interests in cyberspace
Binding Edge
Nils Brinker
 • 7 August 2024
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
An Anonymous European Intelligence Official
 • 23 July 2024
Can lawyers lose wars by stifling cyber capabilities?
Intelligence experts argue that stringent legal frameworks weaken the effectiveness of Western cyber defence capabilities
single img
Hooked On Trends
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
Read more arrow
single img
Book Binder
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
Read more arrow
single img
Binding Edge
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
Read more arrow
single img
Hooked On Trends
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
Read more arrow
single img
Binding Edge
Announcing the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition
Max Smeets • 4 November 2024
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
Read more arrow
single img
Binding Edge
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
Read more arrow
single img
Binding Edge
Responsible AI principles in an ‘apolitical’ industry
Cat Easdon • 29 October 2024
In an industry that considers itself ‘not a place to debate politics’, creating responsible AI principles can be difficult
Read more arrow
single img
Book Binder
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
Read more arrow
single img
Binding Edge
The narrow case for cyber insurance backstops
Tom Johansmeyer • 22 October 2024
Government backstops don’t make sense for cyber risk, except as a stimulus for market activity
Read more arrow
single img
Hooked On Trends
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
Read more arrow
Editors' Picks
Binding Edge
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
Read more arrow
Editors' Picks
Hooked On Trends
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
Read more arrow
Editors' Picks
Book Binder
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
Read more arrow

Terms and Conditions for the AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition

Introduction

The AI-Cybersecurity Essay Prize Competition (the “Competition”) is organized by the European Cyber Conflict Research Incubator (“ECCRI CIC”) 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 ECCRI CIC.

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 ECCRI CIC 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

ECCRI CIC, 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 ECCRI CIC, MSC, and the Sponsor against any claims, damages, or losses resulting from a breach of these T&Cs.

General Conditions

ECCRI CIC reserves the right to cancel, suspend, or modify the Competition or these T&Cs if fraud, technical failures, or any other factor beyond ECCRI CIC’s reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the Competition, as determined by ECCRI CIC 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, ECCRI CIC 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.