On Feb. 11, the annual State of the Net conference kicked off in Washington, DC featuring two speakers from the Center for Cybersecurity Policy & Law, Jeremy Grant and Ari Schwartz. 

The event convened leading Internet experts from government and the private sector to explore pressing issues in Internet and technology policy and debate how the web can better facilitate global communications, commerce and democracy. The conference featured a diverse set of panels and keynotes, including sessions focused on cyber, national security, and identity policy. 

One of the event’s opening panels entitled, “Deepfakes and the Digital Self: Legislation, Innovation, or Cooperation?” explored what industry leaders can do to address the deepfake epidemic in the age of AI – which has already heightened concerns about identity theft, misinformation, and other forms of exploitation. Better Identity Coalition Coordinator Jeremy Grant participated as a panelist and shared possible digital ID-focused solutions to malicious deepfakes. 

Most experts on the panel were in general agreement that congressional legislation currently under consideration such as the “Take It Down Act” and the “No Fakes Act,” could help alleviate some forms of identity theft and misinformation.

Grant argued that while recent legislative provisions could be a good start, we’re really missing policy proposals that address how difficult it is to prove who you are online. There is currently no digital counterpart to paper and plastic credentials – and that’s a serious problem when it comes to identity theft and harmful misinformation. 

Grant addressed the need for policymakers to work to close the gap between the physical credentials we carry with us and having a digital counterpart – where much of our commerce and communications take place. He called on lawmakers to consider proposals in the Better Identity Coalition's Policy Blueprint released last month. 

No tech conference panel is complete without a discussion on AI, and while panelists debated various strategies to catch AI-generated media, Grant noted that “the one technology that artificial intelligence cannot spoof is a private key,” explaining that digital keys will be crucial in guarding against deepfakes in the identity and cybersecurity space. 

Later in the day, Cybersecurity Coalition Coordinator Ari Schwartz spoke on “Geopolitics of the Internet: How Will Trump Reframe the New World Order,” a panel focused on the future and security of the global Internet and who might win the geopolitical battle for its control. 

While the discussion opened with a debate on TikTok and the likelihood of a ban this year, the panel’s focus quickly shifted toward cybersecurity and the need for global cooperation. Schwartz argued that U.S. leadership and funding are paramount to global cyber and national security. He applauded the recent move by U.S. State Department officials to unfreeze funding for Costa Rica’s cyber programs. “We need to continue this fight,” said Schwartz, pointing out that funding foreign security efforts ultimately benefits American networks.

When asked about President Biden’s cybersecurity Executive Order, most panelists agreed that its core provisions could help protect U.S. networks. At the same time, Schwartz urged both the public and private sectors to continue work on critical infrastructure protections as threats evolve. 

The panel session closed with a parting question on AI, where Schwartz pointed out that advances in artificial intelligence are improving security, and that AI will ultimately help cyber experts just as much as it may threaten networks. He also warned that policymakers and industry leaders will regret the day when security flaws inside AI systems are disregarded.

Watch the full panel sessions on State of the Net’s YouTube page here. 

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