The NAOC’s Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Program features an in-depth analysis of latest trends, developments, and threats in international security. New security concerns are always on the horizon and our program seeks to examine these domains including global warming, natural resources, drones, urban conflicts, and cyberspace. 

The program’s mandate is to keep Canadians informed on these rapidly developing and increasingly pivotal realms that are integral to all aspects of security.  

Alexander Martin Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

Blockchain in the Trump Era: Shaping the Future of Global Economy and Security

As the global landscape shifts under the Trump Administration, it is characterized by increasing political polarization, a focus on deregulation, and a growing interest in digital currencies and blockchain technologies. As a result, attention is now being paid to how these innovations could reshape the global economy and national security. The rising interest in digital Read More…

Alexander Martin Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

The Digital Battlefield: How China’s Cyber Program Is Reshaping National Security

On Sunday, January 19th, TikTok, the app that has captivated millions, was expected to shut down its operations in the U.S. This follows a sweeping federal ban sparked by a new law demanding that ByteDance, the Chinese company behind TikTok, divest from the app. Canada, too, is stepping up its scrutiny, forcing TikTok to close Read More…

Alexander Martin Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

Mis/Disinformation and Polarization Online: Protecting Canada’s Democracy in the Digital Age

This is an era where information warfare is evolving at an unprecedented pace. The digital landscape, marked by rapid shifts, such as the acquisition of Twitter (now X), the Cambridge Analytica scandal, and targeted disinformation campaigns, has exposed the increasing vulnerability of democracies, particularly in the Global North. NATO distinguishes between “misinformation”—false or inaccurate information Read More…

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Jeremy Ofwono

From Aid to Boots on the Ground: The Russian-North Korean Axis in the Ukraine Conflict

Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the two countries have been embroiled in Europe’s largest conventional conflict since World War II, suffering thousands of civilian and military casualties. Since the war began, Ukraine has received substantial aid from NATO and EU members, with EU commitments exceeding $126 billion as of April 30, Read More…

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats Jeremy Ofwono

Drones of Influence: Information Warfare & Border Security on the Korean Peninsula

On October 11, 2024, North Korea accused South Korea of flying drones into its capital, claiming that the drones were used to spread South Korean propaganda across Pyongyang. On October 19, the KCNA state agency reported, “In light of the drone’s shape, the presumptive period of flight, the leaflet-scattering box fixed to the underpart of Read More…

Clara Lachman Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

The Missing Element to Navigating the Threat of AI

November 30, 2022 marked a turning point in the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI). On this day, a new technology known as ChatGPT landed in the hands of the public. Launched as an interactive chatbot by AI research and deployment company, OpenAI, the tool quickly initiated a cascade of exponential technological advancement that took society Read More…

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

The Geopolitical Ramifications of Cyber Attacks on Canadian Energy Grids

In the current digital era, cyberattacks on Canadian energy networks raise serious geopolitical security concerns. These attacks have a significant impact on the geopolitical environment in addition to endangering the energy infrastructure. Cyberattacks on Canadian energy networks have far-reaching geopolitical repercussions that touch on many important industries. affecting national security, public safety, and the economy. Read More…

Cyber Security and Emerging Threats

The Russia-Ukraine War’s INF Angle

Although there are no longer INF Treaty restrictions on the deployment of ground-launched intermediate-range missiles, and concerns about their deployment in Europe loomed large in the diplomatic brinkmanship leading up to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022, land-based INF-range missiles have yet to play a role in the Russia-Ukraine War. The scope of the Read More…