A recent cyberattack forced the Belgian Government to shut down its national tax portal. Meanwhile, Denmark has just recorded one of the largest data breaches in its history, with the personal identification data of nearly 9 million people accessed without authorisation. Similar incidents have also occurred in many parts of the world, heightening concerns that further waves of cyberattacks could spread, wiping out the achievements of socio-economic development.
Of particular concern, cybercriminals are shifting their targets towards disrupting infrastructure, production and business operations, and people's daily lives. In recent days, a series of supermarkets and food stores in at least 11 European countries have fallen victim to an unusual wave of attacks. Rather than stealing data and personal information to demand ransom, as is commonly the case, hackers took control of refrigeration systems and changed the operating temperatures of refrigerators, causing large quantities of food to spoil and be destroyed on a massive scale, resulting in significant financial losses. This wave of attacks shows that even ordinary devices can be turned by cybercriminals into “tools” for disrupting economic activities and everyday life.
The global cybersecurity landscape is also changing. Cybercriminals are expanding the scope of their attacks to critical infrastructure, production lines and key industries in countries around the world. Cybersecurity is no longer merely a matter of data protection; it is increasingly closely linked to production and business operations and the supply chains of essential services. Hospitals, water treatment plants, electricity companies, financial service organisations and essential infrastructure facilities can all become targets of attacks. Cybercrime losses are estimated to have reached approximately 10.5 trillion USD in 2025 and are forecast to continue rising this year. Cyber insecurity has also been ranked by the World Economic Forum among the top 10 risks facing the global economy.
According to experts, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a game-changing factor on the global cybersecurity front, as hackers are exploiting the rapid development of AI to influence the scale, speed and nature of their attacks.
Whereas large-scale attacks previously required experienced personnel and lengthy preparation, they can now be carried out in a short time and at low cost, while becoming more precise and dangerous. Hackers use AI as a tool to automate certain stages of their operations, from identifying vulnerabilities and gathering information to writing malicious code and stealing data. More than 100 technology companies, including major players such as OpenAI, Google and Microsoft, have issued simultaneous warnings that AI-assisted cyberattacks could become more widespread and sophisticated as AI models continue to be upgraded.
Cybersecurity is becoming an important pillar, playing a decisive role in protecting each country's economy, sovereignty and security. However, as a “borderless front”, cyberspace is an arena in which no country can respond alone; instead, it requires coordination on a global scale. The challenges are not limited to technology companies, but also extend to businesses using AI, digital infrastructure providers and governments around the world.
In reality, most of the network infrastructure and the most advanced AI models today are in the hands of multinational technology corporations rather than governments. Therefore, close coordination and cooperation between governments and major technology corporations are extremely important. These companies can help assess the global cybersecurity landscape and provide technical infrastructure, while governments play a role in coordinating policies and enforcing laws in this field. This will help build and strengthen more robust cyber defence lines.
Cyberspace is an environment without borders, where an attack launched from one country can potentially cause the collapse of another country's national infrastructure in an instant. Global cooperation has become a matter of survival as science and technology make tremendous advances, yet can also be exploited for destructive purposes. Only through the joint efforts of the international community can the development of science and technology truly become a “key” to safe and sustainable development.
