Digitalization in the new National Security Strategy
In the middle of the summer, the government adopted a new national security strategy. When digitalization is discussed in it, it is mainly as a threat, as in the previous strategy, and not something needed for both prosperity and security. However, there are important differences compared to the previous strategy from 2017, such as the government writing that Swedish competitiveness contributes to Swedish security. This is welcome.
Of course, a lot has happened since the last strategy was adopted. The security situation has deteriorated sharply, with full-scale war in Europe and other threats. The government has put security policy high on the agenda and appointed a national security adviser to take charge of the strategy. It is also a turbulent landscape. Sweden is, of course, involved in work on similar strategic issues in both the EU and NATO. Nor is there a lack of Swedish strategies in other areas related to security policy, such as strategies for China, the Arctic, development cooperation, countering violent extremism and terrorism, countering organized crime, a specific defence and security strategy for space, a strategy for integrated border management - and actually quite a few more. TechSweden, for example, welcomed the strategy on foreign trade, investment and competitiveness and we are still waiting for the digitalization strategy and a new national strategy on information and cyber security.
The contribution of business to security is one of the new features of the new national security strategy. It was only briefly addressed as 'trade' in the 2017 strategy. Although the competitiveness section is the last in the whole strategy, it is a step forward. However, it is mostly about education, research and innovation. Of course, according to the government, EU cooperation contributes to competitiveness. However, the government's main concern seems to be that it strengthens "the EU's resource base and thus its potential for increased investment in security and geopolitical influence". Business deserves more than that and the need to develop the perception of the contribution of business to national security remains.
What about digitalization? In the previous strategy, "information and cyber security, digital risks" came second in the list of threats to Sweden. This year's strategy is more balanced, with the government taking Swedish national security interests as its starting point, but there is still a need to highlight how digitization makes Sweden stronger - both in war and in peace - while managing the risks.
Although the tech sector contributes as much as 11% of Sweden's exports and SEK 350 billion to GDP, digitalisation is mostly seen as a threat in the strategy. It brings risks. Disinformation is spread on digital platforms, according to the government. AI is deemed to "have increasingly tangible security policy consequences". The brief statements on the benefits of the technology are usually followed by a warning about the risks. It is much more succinct when the strategy touches on Sweden's benefits from the technology.
The government states that Sweden, as "one of the world's most innovative countries, is in an excellent position to benefit from technological development for our prosperity". However, we are not told much about how this affects security policy issues and what Swedish interests are in the area. A lot is likely to be found in the flora of strategies, but it is thin here.
While it may require the government to hire some kind of strategic strategist to keep track of new and old strategies and generally navigate the documents, an updated strategy is welcome in times of turmoil. In particular, of course, it is important that business and competitiveness are more clearly included than before.
It may be easier to write strategies than government decisions to make them happen - but that is the real test for government - implementation. In these times, the importance of the government getting that right cannot be overstated.
Fredrik Sand
Business policy expert