International regulations on cybersecurity have become essential

The pace of the digital (r)evolution is unstoppable. As it brings with it growing vulnerabilities – such as cybercrime and hybrid warfare – international regulations on cybersecurity have become indispensable. That is where our FPS comes in.

Those of us who are a bit older will remember: it was not until the 1990s that computers really became part of everyday life. Connecting all these devices across the globe gave rise to the ‘electronic or digital highway,’ better known as the internet. The enormous potential of this digital development became crystal clear when chess champion Garry Kasparov was defeated by the chess computer Deep Blue in 1997.

Hyperconnectivity

From that point on, things moved at breakneck speed. Today, we can truly speak of ‘hyperconnectivity.’ All possible aspects of our society have become increasingly connected through computer networks. Think of healthcare, payments, e-mail traffic and social media, weather forecasts, the electricity grid, checking in for flights, and so on. And for this, not only fibre-optic cables but also satellites have become indispensable.

Thanks to this digitalisation, we were able to work from home during the coronavirus crisis, preventing our economy from completely collapsing. We can make cheap calls via WhatsApp, and many administrative procedures – such as filing our tax return – are now much faster. The evolution is almost impossible to keep up with and certainly cannot be stopped. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already a hype. And what will quantum computing, 5G, nanotechnology and blockchain technology bring next?

Vulnerable

Still, this (r)evolution inevitably has a downside — and that is not even mentioning the staggering amount of energy gobbled up by all those computers and data centres. The hyperconnected worldwide web has also made us extremely vulnerable. Malicious individuals, organisations, or states are actively trying to infiltrate these networks and sabotage systems.

This could involve criminals trying to trick you into revealing your bank details through fraudulent emails (phishing), or – as happened recently – paralysing the check-in system at our national airport and demanding a ransom to restore it.

Hostile states also sometimes eagerly exploit the vulnerability of digital networks to harm and destabilise countries – known as hybrid warfare. They may interfere in elections, obtain secret information, spread disinformation, and more.

Even in modern warfare itself, digital technology has become indispensable. Just think of the widespread use of drones in Ukraine, all digitally controlled.

Cybersecurity: a continuous collaboration between the Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB), Defence, and our Federal Public Service

In short, we urgently need regulation and technology to make cyberspace – the virtual space of the global internet – a safe space once again. And since cyberspace, by definition, knows no borders, international dialogue and cooperation are absolutely essential – very much the core domain of the FPS Foreign Affairs.

Much like in other European countries, Belgium’s cybersecurity is built on four key pillars.
(1) The Centre for Cybersecurity Belgium (CCB) is the national authority for cybersecurity in Belgium. It supervises, coordinates, and monitors the application of the Belgian cybersecurity strategy (2021-2025). Its goal: a ‘safe digital world where you can live and work online without worries.’ It has solid expertise and places strong emphasis on raising awareness among the Belgian population. One example is Safeonweb.

(2) Precisely because digital technologies are increasingly being used as weapons, the Ministry of Defence established a Cyber Command in 2022—a fourth branch of the armed forces, alongside the navy, air force, and army. It defends our country against cyberattacks and is also capable of carrying out cyber operations itself.

(3) Our FPS represents our country in international forums where regulations on cybersecurity are developed. Since 2023, we even have a so-called ‘cyber ambassador’ for this purpose.

If necessary, we consult with the relevant Belgian authorities to reach a common position. These include several ministries — for example, the FPS Economy is responsible for innovation — the CCB, BELSPO (the Belgian Science Policy), and BIPT (Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications).

(4) Finally, the police and judiciary ensure compliance with cybersecurity legislation.

International forums

A wide range of international forums deal with cybersecurity, but the most relevant for us are the EU, the UN, and NATO. It is essential that – despite rapid technological developments – international law also applies to cyberspace.

From the very beginning, the EU decided to take on a leading role in this domain. It was one of the first to devise a detailed AI act, and it did not shy away from imposing heavy fines on tech giants like Meta and Google. Its privacy legislation (GDPR) set the standard worldwide.

The EU is also highly active in the field of cybersecurity. Among other things, it has developed a diplomatic toolbox that should allow a powerful response to cyberattacks. This toolbox can also be used to deter other states from resorting to such attacks.

Within the UN framework, a final report on the responsible behaviour of states in cyberspace was adopted in July 2025 following five years of negotiations. At its core is the desire for existing international regulations and standards to be respected globally and by all actors – both public and private.

Lastly, NATO, as a defensive alliance, faces the challenge of dealing with increasingly complex cyber threats and attacks. How do we integrate digital technologies in our defence strategies? How can we deploy drones? And how can we protect our critical infrastructure? All of these questions are being addressed. The allies have, in any case, committed to giving priority to strong cyber defence of national infrastructure and networks.

Good score for Belgium and our FPS

It seems that cyber threats have been increasing in recent years, but in reality, we have simply become more aware of them. The tensions between global powers – Russia, China, the US… – certainly play a role, but cybercrime has also become part of everyday life.

Belgium is doing very well in terms of cybersecurity, partly by raising public awareness of the issue. On the National Cyber Security Index, our country currently ranks 8th worldwide (out of 175 countries).

In addition, as part of the Belgian EU presidency, a joint meeting of all EU cyber commanders and EU cyber ambassadors took place for the very first time on Wednesday 17 January 2024. 

Within our FPS, the ICT directorate is working hard to prevent malicious actors from accessing sensitive information. The key to our cybersecurity lies in alert staff who can easily identify phishing emails.

As mentioned, the digital (r)evolution is moving at breakneck speed. It is essential to continuously develop new standards and regulations to respond globally to advancing technological capabilities. For now, the international community is still able to reach such agreements. Our FPS will continue to represent our country in these international forums and strive for the most effective provisions possible.