STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, AT THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL OPEN DEBATE ON CYBER SECURITY “MAINTAINING INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY IN CYBERSPACE”, 29 JUNE 2021

Mr President,

               Thank you for convening this important meeting, which marks the first time that the Security Council will address cybersecurity formally.

2             It is a timely topic. The accelerated speed of digitalisation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic has benefited our lives in new ways. It has also opened us up to new vulnerabilities. Cyber threats and malicious cyber activities are becoming more frequent and sophisticated with more severe consequences. In 2020, malicious cyber activities were estimated to have cost losses of nearly $1 trillion. The recent spate of such activities is a stark reminder that the international community must continue to guard against and be prepared to respond to these global and transboundary threats. I would like to highlight five points in this regard.

3             First, we must recognise that cyberspace is fundamentally an issue of managing the global commons. As a small state, Singapore has always supported a rules-based multilateral system rooted in respect for international law. Our approach is no different regarding cyberspace. To maintain a cyberspace that is secure, trusted, open, and interoperable, we must adopt a global approach, based on global rules and norms and adherence to international law. To do so will be challenging, given the backdrop of a volatile and fractious global landscape caused by growing geopolitical tensions. However, we have no option but to continue to advocate and support the applicability of international law and norms in order to encourage responsible state behaviour in cyberspace. We need to double down on international collaboration for greater cyber resilience and stability. 

4             Singapore is committed to the role of the UN, as the only universal, inclusive, and multilateral forum, in developing rules that govern cyberspace. We are encouraged by the maturing cybersecurity discussions at the UN. Since the first time ICT security was included in the agenda of the UN in 1998, six Groups of Governmental Experts (GGE) have studied the threats posed by the misuse of ICTs in the context of international security and how these threats should be addressed. Four of these Groups have agreed on substantive reports, including the latest iteration which has just completed its work.

5             The cybersecurity discussions were brought to the wider membership for the first time at the 73^rd session of the General Assembly. This was done through the establishment of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) on developments in the field of information and telecommunications in the context of international security. We are encouraged by the successful recent adoption of the consensus report of the OEWG. The report contributes to our common understanding on many issues and identifies areas where more discussions are needed.

6 Singapore participated actively in both the OEWG and the most recent GGE. Singapore is also honoured to be elected as Chair of the new OEWG on security of and in the use of information and communications technologies 2021-2025. As Chair of this body, Singapore is strongly committed to continuing the open, inclusive, and transparent discussions on cybersecurity at the UN. We are hopeful that the work of the new OEWG will contribute to a rules-based multilateral order in cyberspace, and give all States, big or small, the confidence, predictability, and stability that are essential for economic progress, job creation, and technology adoption. We look forward to working closely with all Member States in this regard.

7 Second, all States are vulnerable to malicious cyber activity which is growing in scale and sophistication. But small States are particularly vulnerable, especially developing countries and least developed countries. If we are serious about a global approach to cybersecurity, we must maintain a strong focus on capacity-building for countries that need help. This is one area where the UN can help to coordinate efforts. Singapore partnered with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs to develop an online training course open to all UN Member States to promote a greater understanding of the use of ICTs and their implications for international security. We remain committed to working with and supporting the UN to offer further capacity-building programmes.

8 Third, Singapore believes that more can be done to promote greater awareness and implementation of the existing 11 voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTs. We support the exchange of best practices and experiences on the implementation of norms. This will help to identify challenges which we should tackle and gaps where additional norms may be needed. Singapore supports further work to elaborate the existing norms. For example, malicious cyber activity against any cross-border Critical Information Infrastructure (CII), such as clouds and banking systems, can cause wide-ranging disruptions to essential services in multiple States, including those related to international trade, transport, and communications. States should consider how to improve cross-border cooperation with the relevant infrastructure owners and operators to enhance the ICT security measures accorded to such infrastructure.

9 This brings me to my fourth point on greater engagement with other stakeholders, in particular the private sector. With a significant portion of CII owned by the private sector, the international community must find ways to cooperate closely with the private sector to prevent and mitigate the impact of such disruptions. Singapore supports a collaborative approach between the public and private sectors to exchange best practices to support a strong cybersecurity framework.

10 Fifth, Singapore believes that regional organisations play an essential role to support UN discussions and to assist in the implementation of rules and norms developed at the UN. Cybersecurity was a priority for Singapore’s Chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018. That year, ASEAN became the first regional organisation to subscribe in-principle to the 11 voluntary, non-binding norms of responsible State behaviour in the use of ICTS. ASEAN is now developing an action plan to implement these norms. Within ASEAN, Singapore has also been supporting capacity-building programmes. The ASEAN-Singapore Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence was established in 2019 as a multidisciplinary centre for capacity-building on areas such as confidence building measures, policy, strategy, legislation, and operations. We look forward to working together with UN Member States to enhance our collective cyber capacity-building efforts.

Mr President,

11 Let me conclude by saying that a safe and secure digital infrastructure must undergird our ambitions for the digital economy. It is more important than ever for Member States to tackle the challenge of cybersecurity together, in a sustained, holistic, and coordinated manner. Singapore stands ready to work with all countries to build partnerships and cooperation towards a secure, trusted, open, and interoperable cyberspace.

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