Emerging Technologies Can Protect Democratic Freedoms

Technological advances have transformed our world in ways that have the power to both make us more connected than ever—and more divided than ever.

After the 9/11 terror attacks, lawmakers created a bipartisan commission to ensure that one of the darkest days in U.S. history would never be repeated.

Today, threats to the United States and our allies increasingly come from emerging technologies that can have devastating consequences if they are in the wrong hands. Quantum computing, next-generation drones, biomedical engineering, and other technologies have the potential to improve the lives of millions of people—or to empower dictators.

But unlike the 9/11 Commission, we shouldn’t have to wait for a crisis to start preparing ourselves for these threats.

New technologies are already reshaping our lives and how we communicate with people all over the world. Democratic nations need to stay at the forefront of innovation, not play catch-up with adversaries.