According to UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, we are now vulnerable to budding threats via innovative technologies like 3D printers, unmanned aerial vehicles, and – of course – the dark web.
These innovative technologies, according to Nakamitsu, could possibly enable terrorist groups worldwide to gain access to weapons of mass destruction.
“While there are still significant technical hurdles that terrorist groups need to overcome to effectively use weapons of mass destruction, a growing number of emerging technologies could make this barrier easier to cross. Several new areas of concern emerged, such as the use unmanned aerial vehicles, 3D printers, and the exploitation of the so-called dark web.”
Nakamitsu is demanding tougher collaboration within the global community. She is also asking nations to “step up” their cyber security efforts. Opening up the international dialogue between governments and industries is only the beginning.
Although hundreds of companies have been revamping their security measures over the last several years, Nakamitsu is also quick to explain that it is simply not enough – not yet. What we need in order to prevail and come out on top of these cyber-attacks is complete and total global cooperation.
“Recent terrorist attacks have revealed shortcomings in interactions among security agencies, even in countries whose policies are otherwise deeply integrated. Coordination and information-sharing will be vital to overcoming these shortcomings.”
We are in a dangerous situation. The dark web is already hazardous enough with the information that’s public on it.
Now, with the fact that literally anyone can gain materials to create weapons of mass destruction simply by ordering them off an online black market, we should be terrified. Of course, the knowledge will have to come with the purchase . . . but that is not hard to find on the dark web either.
In conclusion, we need to be very careful about the information we put online. If the government is so likely to be hacked and manipulated, maybe they shouldn’t be putting their private tools on a technology platform.