BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation: Achievements and Deepening Paths Gao Wanglai he year 2017 marked the beginning of the second decade of BRICS cooperation. Amidst the profound changes in the international security system, the BRICS mechanism has transformed from Ta forum focusing on economic governance toward a comprehensive cooperation mechanism that gives equal importance to political and economic governance. Due to imperfections in the international institutions and rules of the current global cyber governance, the rivalries among major powers and international organizations for the power to formulate the rules for cyberspace are heating up. The advancement in BRICS cybersecurity cooperation will help raise the voice of the developing countries in global cyberspace governance and the formation of a new order in global cyberspace. Strategic Foundation for BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation The BRICS countries are all emerging economies, and they face common opportunities and challenges in cyberspace, which sets a solid strategic foundation for their cybersecurity cooperation. Confronting common cybersecurity threats The BRICS members are confronted with three common cybersecurity threats. The first is vulnerable information infrastructure. In recent years, their Gao Wanglai is Associate Professor at the Institute of International Relations, China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU). 124 China International Studies BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation: Achievements and Deepening Paths critical information infrastructure (CII) such as finance, electricity, transportation and energy systems have been the major targets of cyberattacks. According to a report by the Forward-Looking Threat Research Team, the number of online banking malware detections in India, Brazil and China accounted for 15% of global total in the third quarter of 2015.1 The second is rampant cybercrime. The US Symantec’s 2016 Internet Security Threat Report warned that emerging economies have high rates of cybercrime.2 The McAfee security firm found that cybercrime’s greatest victims are found in the emerging BRICS economies of Russia (85%), China (77%), and South Africa (73%), precisely where connectivity is high but cybercrime security and awareness is low.3 The third is the common challenge of cyber terrorism. The Global Terrorism Index 2016 released by the London Institute for Economics and Peace indicated that BRICS are threatened by cyber terrorism, with the terrorism index of India, China and Russia ranking the world’s 8th, 23rd and 30th respectively.4 The Fortaleza Declaration issued at the end of 2014 BRICS summit expressed concern at “the increasing use … by terrorists and their supporters, of information and communications technologies (ICTs), in particular the Internet and other media.”5 The Goa Declaration adopted by the 2016 BRICS summit called upon all nations to take a comprehensive approach in “countering misuse of the Internet including social media by terror entities through misuse of the latest Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)”6 Eliminating the digital divide The “digital divide” refers to the gap between “digital poor” and 1 Forward-Looking Threat Research Team, “Ascending the Ranks: The Brazilian Cybercriminal Underground in 2015,” A TrendLabs Research Paper, 2015, p.12, https://documents.trendmicro.com/assets/ wp/wp-ascending-the-ranks.pdf. 2 Symantec, Internet Security Threat Report, Vol. 21, April 2016, p.56. 3 “Cyber-Security and the BRICS,” The Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, http:// globalinitiative.net/programs/cybercrime/cyber-security-and-the-brics. 4 Institute for Economics & Peace, Global Terrorism Index 2016, IEP Report 43, November 2016, pp.10-11. 5 “Sixth BRICS Summit – Fortaleza Declaration,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs, July 15, 2014, http://mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/23635/Sixth+BRICS+Summit++Fortaleza+Declaration. 6 “Goa Declaration at 8th BRICS Summit,” Indian Ministry of External Affairs, October 16, 2016, http:// www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/27491/Goa+Declaration+at+8th+BRICS+Summit. BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation: Achievements and Deepening Paths January/February 2018 125 “digital rich” in the information age, which is demonstrated by the gap in internet penetration rates, and the level and depth of the general public having access to information and telecommunications technologies. The World Economic Forum adopted three drivers of environment, readiness and usage for its Networked Readiness Index (NRI) in 2016, where Russia ranked 41st, China 59th, South Africa 65th, Brazil 72nd, and India 91st.7 The digital divide problem among the BRICS members is striking. According to Internet Live Stats, as of 2016, the total population of BRICS countries was 3.12 billion, the number of internet users in those countries was 1.45 billion, the number of non-users (those without access to the internet) topped 1.66 billion, and the non-users in each BRICS country exceeded 10 million.8 The 2017 Affordability Report by the Alliance for Affordable Internet showed that high connectivity costs remain one of the biggest obstacles to achieving the universal access pledge.9 For example, just 1GB of mobile data costs a Chinese 0.7%, a Brazilian 1.97%, a South African 2.48%, and an Indian 3.55% of their average monthly income.10 Measured by national income, the prices of Microsoft Office in Brazil, Russia and South Africa are 5 to 10 times the prices in the United States and European Union countries.11 The BRICS countries need to overcome the “digital divide” by giving full play to the potential of digitalization. Bright prospects for ICT cooperation The combined population of the BRICS countries is more than 40% of the world’s total. With specific advantages in the ITC field, the BRICS countries are both important markets and exporters of ICT products. China 7 Silja Baller et al, eds., The Global Information Technology Report 2016, Geneva: World Economic Forum, 2016, p.16. 8 Internet Live Stats, Internet Users by Country (2016), July 1, 2016, http://www.internetlivestats.com/ internet-users-by-country. 9 Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2017 Affordability Report, p.6, http://1e8q3q16vyc81g8l3h3md6q5f5e. wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/A4AI-2017-Affordability-Report.pdf. 10 Alliance for Affordable Internet, 2017 Affordability Report, pp.6, 47. 11 Laura DeNardis, The Global War for Internet Governance, translated by Qin Qingling, et al., Renmin University Press, 2017, p.201. 126 China International Studies BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation: Achievements and Deepening Paths Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and high representatives for security issues from Russia, South Africa, India and Brazil attend the seventh meeting of BRICS High Representatives for Security Issues in Beijing, July 28, 2017. The parties agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation in cybersecurity and give play to the roles of meeting and consultation mechanisms at all levels. is the world’s largest exporter of electronic products, with its household electronic appliances occupying over 30% of the world market.12 Russia takes lead in broadband services among the BRICS countries. The cost of its mobile internet and communications is the second lowest in the world, only higher than Hong Kong.13 India is a large software exporter, and its information industry is on track to reach the goal of $225 billion in revenue by 2020.14 South Africa is the leader of Africa’s telecommunications industry and its telecom operator is the sponsor of the BRICS Cable. Brazil is a 12 Zhao Yang, “China’s Electronic Home Appliances Trade Share Over One-Third of World’s Total,” Tencent Digital, January 19, 2017, http://digi.tech.qq.com/a/20170119/034267.htm. 13 “New Progress in Russia’s ICT Industry in 2016,” China Daily, May 26, 2017, http://world.chinadaily. com.cn/2017-05/26/content_29517360.htm. 14 “Indian Tech Industry Revenue to Touch $350 Billion by 2025: NASSCOM,” Gadgets NDTV, October 5, 2015, http://gadgets.ndtv.com/others/news/indian-tech-industry-revenue-to-touch-350-billion-by-2025- nasscom-748429. BRICS Cybersecurity Cooperation: Achievements and Deepening Paths January/February 2018 127 critical data hub in South America and it has deployed 24 top-class geo- domain mirror servers in its territory.15 The BRICS countries have reached consensus on deepening their ICT cooperation. In 2015, the BRICS leaders at the Ufa summit decided to establish a working group on ICT cooperation. In November 2016, the BRICS Ministers of Communications agreed on the common goal of establishing a “digital partnership.” Manoj Sinha, India’s Minister of Communications, pointed out that the BRICS members have decided to adopt Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions (BRICS) in the ICT arena.16 China Huawei Corporation is actively helping the BRICS countries improve their ICT levels, and has set up communications technology training centers in Russia, India and Brazil. In July 2016, it established Africa’s first ICT innovation experience center in South Africa. BRICS countries can benefit most developing countries by exporting electronic products to less-developed countries and sharing the development experience of their information technology industries. China’s Huawei Corporation is assisting the other BRICS countries to enhance their ICT capabilities by setting up ICT training centers in Russia, India and Brazil. In July 2016, it established Africa’s first ICT innovation experience center