Technology creates new maritime security challenges
Talking to reporters from the People's Public Security Newspaper on the sidelines of a seminar on promoting maritime diplomacy in Southeast Asia in Hanoi, Ms. Ilona Drozdov, an Israeli expert on international cooperation in maritime security, stated that along with the digitization process, perspectives on maritime security are changing rapidly.
Previously, the scope of protection mainly targeted tangible assets such as seaports, ships, and maritime routes. But today, that scope has expanded to include operating computer systems that connect these infrastructures together.
Taking the recent situation of GPS/GNSS signal interference or spoofing targeting vessels as an example, Ms. Drozdov warned that the consequences could be very severe. "For now, we almost do not have cases of actual collision, but operational procedures at sea have been significantly affected," Ms. Drozdov noted.
One easily overlooked point, according to her, is that information systems and equipment on ships and in seaports do not operate independently, but depend closely on each other; when one system fails, it can trigger a chain reaction of malfunctions in other systems. Therefore, wanting to protect the ship's steering system or the cargo handling system at the port cannot be done by just looking at that system itself, but must trace what factors it relies on to operate.
"Vulnerabilities or threats often stem from third-party software, data collection sensors, or the underlying data itself," she explained.
In other words, a hacker does not necessarily have to attack a ship or port directly; just infiltrating a small supplier in the supply chain is enough to inversely affect the entire system.
Taking a typical example of this interdependence, subsea fiber optic cables, the lifeline of the global internet, Ms. Drozdov noted that not all incidents are caused by targeted attacks; dropping anchors or fishing by vessels can also cut cables. But because subsea cables are increasingly important to the digital economy, countries need the capability to detect, handle, and recover as quickly as possible when incidents occur.
Commenting on AI and automation, the Israeli expert assessed that these new technologies are strongly changing the way seaports, shipping, and the logistics industry operate. However, alongside a series of positive changes helping to increase operational productivity, the application of AI technology comes with certain security risks.
"When we talk about artificial intelligence, we must understand that technological capability is not equivalent to resilience," she said, recommending that before deploying AI, agencies and businesses must clearly define what tasks AI will undertake, how critical its role is, and where vulnerabilities might lie throughout the operational chain.
International cooperation is a key requirement
From the above challenges, expert Drozdov recommended that nations and organizations enhance the resilience of the entire chain, strengthen coordination between state agencies and businesses, and share experiences to proactively respond to new risks.
For dynamic economies in Southeast Asia, Ms. Drozdov believes that first of all, countries need to clearly recognize the level of interdependence in maritime activities, from seaports, transportation, and logistics to technological systems and cross-border supply chains.
Therefore, the Israeli expert called for promoting international cooperation early, not only to handle incidents when they occur but also for countries to jointly prepare for new risks in advance. Exchanging information, experiences, and technology can help each country access additional solutions that a single nation would struggle to fully develop on its own.
One of the fields clearly demonstrating this requirement is the protection of subsea fiber optic cables. This is an infrastructure system spanning the waters of multiple countries, while ownership, operation, and protection responsibilities may belong to different entities. Ensuring the safety of this system requires coordination that goes beyond the scope of any single nation.
Besides technology and infrastructure issues, the Israeli expert also stated that international cooperation needs to be further expanded in legal terms. The emergence of new threats poses issues that existing international treaties do not fully address.
