KYIV - STRENGTH IN UNITY.

SECURITY IN ACTION
CHALLENGES OF INFORMATIONAL WARFARE
If we want to have a good response to those challenges, firstly - we need to understand the context
of the problem and real reasons of the situation.
We are living in the digital era, as some experts suggest: just between the third ( the role of
information technology) and fourth ( the growing role of the cyber-physical systems) industrial
revolution. Digital is everywhere, for everybody, and everything becomes digital. It is important to
understand all consequences of using the Internet - the impact on economy, on society, on privacy,
and - on security. It is crucial to see and understand the bright side of the Internet, but at the same
time - the dark side. We have Internet, and we have Darknet. We have crimes, and we have
cybercrimes, we have war - and we have the hybrid war.
Ukraine, as many countries is experiencing those cyber threats and Information Warfare.
But for Ukraine it is much more meaningful and dangerous now, because of the war, because of
the Russia aggression.
So, Ukraine is challenging the DDoS attacks targeting media, government and financial sites.
Ukraine is under the pressure of disinformation and propaganda operations, which manipulate the
awareness of citizens, have impact on negative emotions, radicalization and establishing of
conflicts. Ukraine is under attack, which is oriented for discreditation of the public and social
leaders, which is destroyable for leadership during the hard time of the war and reforms'
implementation. Ukraine is in danger at the area of infrastructure : all kinds of networks, as well
public as private. Public institutions are in danger, and companies - which means also consumers.
It is promising, that Ukrainian government is working on the new Cyber Security Strategy, and is
mapping gaps at the area of cyber threats. But the Strategy in real terms should mean:
- ensuring the complex legal framework, as close to the EU solutions as possible, and also in
cooperation with NATO institutions,
- ensuring the implementation of all security rules and requirements into investment procedures
related to telecommunication, Internet networks, all ICT solutions,
- ensuring preparation and implementation of all required standards. Standarization of networks,
devices, procedures is the key element of possible guarantees for better security. It is also
important to have the model of certification of the standards,
- ensuring interoperability among all systems, not only technical, structural, but semantic one,
which will give the certainty of mutuallly understandable and effective connections,
- ensuring the patterns and schemes for procedures in public institutions and in companies, with
well-structured tools for management of the cyber risks and indication and sharing of
responsibilities,
- ensuring the cooperation between all partners, especially in the chain of the critical
infrastructure: as it is described in the European directive on NIS, Network Information Security,
- ensuring the implementation of the Ukrainian CERT / Computer Emergency Response Team (
probably also with the possibility to play the role of the early warning institution) as compatible
with European network of CERTs and in cooperation with ENISA ( it is for discussion with the
Commission, ENISA and Member States). I think, that it is the role of the State Center for Cyber
Security and Reaction to Cyber threats,
- ensuring the start of implementation of the rules, which are important for data and privacy
protection and security - it is crucial now, when in the EU, we are starting the implementation of
General Data Protection Regulation,
- ensuring that new business approach is allowed in this area - which should give some fruits as
devices and solutions in terms of : privacy by design and security by design,

- ensuring changes in the Criminal Code, which will equal the position of crimes and cybercrimes it is important for fighting against cybercrime,
- ensuring organisation of campaign for raising awareness of the security issues among everyday
users of all digital devices and networks is present.
The last point is also the key. If we want to counteract the massive Russian propaganda,
disinformation and trolling activity - we need to prepare the common policy at that area, between
the EU and Ukraine. It should be focused on internal partnership, publicity, transparency and
education, which practically means:
- increasing support for existing EU and Partnership media outlets on the key topics related to the
threats,
- strengthening media cooperation networks and prepare proper, attractive information for the
Western audience,
- developing and sustaining platforms for media communication with populations - support it also
by using Russian language,
- involving and trusting local journalists and supporting local initiatives, it is also important for the
civic society development - the strong civic society is the best information shield,
- encouraging media engagement of reporting on EU matters and all problems related the hybrid
war, especially at the area of possible manipulation of knowledge,
- promoting and developing the credibility of some media channels ( high quality of impartial
information and deep comments). The credibility among many sources of information is
priceless and valuable, also creates the confidence and build the trust as a basis for social
capital,
- sharing best practices and raise the level of media literacy, also learn how to tackle hate speech
in the Internet - in social media and at Twitter,
- finding the tools for better recognition of the substance of trolling massive attacks. Those attacks
come from troll factories in the case of Russian trolling model, which is under political control of
Putin administration. It is important to inform publicly on those phenomena and make it clear
what kind of purposes the trolls have. Some kind of "name and shame" policies are needed,
- enhancing the level of good governance in media outlets and ensuring the transparency,
- fostering independent academic research on media,
- ensuring adequate resources for implementing the necessary measures.
All those measures and activities can have the real impact, if we will be ready to work together on
them.
Michal Boni, MEP
Kyiv, 15 th April 2016