Joint Fact Sheet: U.S. and UK Cooperation on Cyberspace

Today, President Obama and PM Cameron reaffirmed their close bilateral cooperation, and charted important new steps forward, on an area of increasing attention: cyberspace issues, particularly cybersecurity.

A shared vision for cyberspace’s future.  Leaders noted that networked technology now provides one of the essential foundations for opportunities and growth within any modern prosperous global economy, and outlined their shared vision for cyberspace which places at its heart fundamental freedoms of speech and association, individual privacy, and the free flow of information.

Building consensus on responsible behavior.  Both recognized that the same kinds of “rules of the road” that help maintain peace, security, and respect for individual rights internationally must equally apply in cyberspace.  Leaders’ highlighted their commitment to building consensus on the basic principles, and participating in the London International Cyber Conference in November 2011.

Protecting our citizens and building the rule of law.  Through its deposit of instruments of accession in Strasbourg today, the United Kingdom has now joined the U.S. and 30 other states as parties to the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime, the world’s foremost treaty to combat cybercrime internationally.  The Convention sets standards for national laws in dealing with online fraud and abuse, but even more importantly permits effective cooperation between nations — a crucial tool since so many cybercrimes cross national boundaries.  Noting this landmark achievement, leaders’ agreed to continue work to expand the reach of this important treaty.

Partnering with industry to win the future.  In recent months, President Obama and Prime Minister Cameron each hosted milestone discussions with leaders from their respective technology industries.  These innovators help spur the investment and long-term job growth on which economies depend; noting their contribution, Prime Minister Cameron and President Obama will continue to find ways to join with industry to maintain national competitiveness.

Expanding the reach of networked technologies.  The U.S. and UK are committed to partnering to help more countries benefit from information and communications technologies.  Leaders’ will direct new and regular government-wide consultations, sharing strategies and plans to more effectively deploy resources in building technological capacity in the developing world.

Sharing a responsibility for cybersecurity.  Leaders’ concluded by noting the relationship on cybersecurity issues remains deeper than ever; that both nations benefit from a shared awareness of threats to national networks, share measures to better defend them.  To maintain that leadership and better confront tomorrow’s threats, the President and Prime Minister noted new trans-Atlantic initiatives to provide joint funding and review of cybersecurity research and development (R&D) projects.