The new nominee to be US Ambassador at Large for Cyberspace and Digital Policy” at the Department of State, Nathaniel Fick, laid out his policy agenda in questioning from the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee Wednesday.
Quoting the Record: On the policy front, Fick said he would seek to “strengthen adherence to the framework of responsible state behavior” outlined by the United Nations regarding malicious behavior online, promoting a norm-based model to deter bad behavior. He also said he would promote a digital economy where U.S. companies and the people that work at them can compete — including protecting the free flow of data across borders while protecting users’ privacy and the integrity of their information. Lastly, Fick said he would “champion a positive vision for digital freedom” that countered a rise in digital authoritarianism.
To pursue those policies, he planned to focus first on building a team and culture inside the State Department that views fluency and expertise in technology as a crucial skill set. After that, he would focus on asserting the State Department’s place in cybersecurity policy and other global digital security issues.
It’s a big deal to have a dedicated ambassador focused on digital norms around the world. Sure, he’s a nominee so not confirmed yet. It’s the position I consider important, and as the first nominee, he will be setting the tone and direction for others to come.
Of course, protecting users’s privacy does require that the US actually define what privacy is. Will we get a federal privacy bill? Maybe.