• Does “digital solidarity” in US strategy aim for US dominance?
• Jennifer Bachus admits limitations: “Complex challenges.”

“It’s not about the US maintaining its technological lead at the expense of the rest of the world. Ultimately, that’s not going to be successful,” Jeniffer Bachus said, concluding an hour-long interview Tech HQ that revealed the ambitions and challenges of America’s approach to global digital policy. She started the conversation by handing over a copy of the US’s new International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy [PDF], which she seemed particularly proud of.

Bachus, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, assumed her role when the Bureau was established in April 2022. Formed under the purview of the US Department of State to address the growing importance of digital issues in foreign policy, it has ambitiously set three broad areas to tackle: international cybersecurity, international digital policy, and digital freedom. It aims to shape global discourse on cyber and digital issues, from cybersecurity threats to internet governance and digital rights promotion.

However, the wide-ranging mandate raises questions about the balance between promoting “digital solidarity” and maintaining US digital dominance.

Two years after its formation, the Bureau released its ‘International Cyberspace and Digital Policy Strategy’ in May 2024, which became the main point of reference in our interview with Bachus. Could it be that such a strategy, presented as a comprehensive framework for global digital engagement, may struggle to reconcile its stated goal of international cooperation, as some view it as the underlying desire to preserve technological leadership?

Digital solidarity or digital dominance?

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of the US strategy is the concept of “digital solidarity.” This approach, as Bachus explained, moves away from unilateral US technological dominance towards a collaborative model of leadership among like-minded nations.

While the shift is promising, it raises questions about inclusivity. How will nations with different values or technological capabilities fit in this framework? The success of digital solidarity will depend on it being truly global and not just a coalition of technologically-advanced Western nations. Bachus addressed this directly in her interview with Tech HQ, stating, “In our strategy, we talk about this idea of digital solidarity, and it’s not that the US itself has to be the leader in all things. Essentially, in an ideal world, countries that share the same values and approach should come together and work together to create the technologies of tomorrow.”

Further elaborating on this collaborative approach, Bachus framed the global technological landscape not as a race for dominance but as a competition of values and methodologies. She emphasised that the real challenge lies in determining how technology will be utilised: whether it will serve the interests of people, governments, or corporations. Bachus acknowledged that the US may not always have the optimal solutions for every global scenario.

AI regulation: navigating uncharted waters

The conversation then shifted to AI regulation, one of the most pressing challenges in the digital landscape. Bachus provided a comprehensive overview of the US approach, revealing the long-standing efforts and recent developments in this rapidly-evolving field. “We have worked on AI for many years,” Bachus explained. She detailed various initiatives, including the AI Connect programme, which brought countries together to develop appropriate frameworks for AI, focusing on rights-respecting approaches, enabling innovation, and ensuring meaningful access for a wide range of people. She also highlighted work through the US-EU Trade and Technology Council to establish shared understandings of critical concepts like trust and security in the context of AI.

However, she acknowledged the seismic shift caused by recent AI advancements. “We need to recognise that there has been a major innovation in AI, and now we need to think about this even more intensely and slightly differently,” she admitted. The US response has included developing voluntary commitments with major AI companies and creating an executive order on AI. Bachus emphasised the importance of involving AI developers in these discussions:

“Having the developers in the room is incredibly important because I will tell you, I, as a career diplomat, cannot tell you actually how to regulate AI – it’s beyond my ability.”

This candid admission highlights the complex nature of governing rapidly-evolving technologies and the need for diverse policy-making expertise. Bachus stressed the importance of flexibility in regulation, noting that the executive order on AI is “a very changeable, flexible thing” because “technology is evolving.”

Conclusion

As the interview concluded, it became clear that the US strategy for global digital engagement is a work in progress, balancing ambition with the realities of a rapidly changing technological environment. While “digital solidarity” offers a promising shift towards more collaborative global leadership, questions remain about its inclusivity and implementation.

Bachus’s frank discussion of the challenges in AI regulation underscores the complexity of the task. As nations grapple with these issues, the success of US strategy will likely depend on its ability to foster genuine cooperation, adapt to emerging challenges, and balance innovation with responsible governance. In Bachus’s words, “Ultimately, what we need to do is to work together to ensure our values are leading the day.”

This collaborative approach may be the key to addressing global challenges in cyberspace and digital policy.

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