In recent weeks, the world has been taken aback by Russia’s unlawful and unjustified invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin’s brutal attempt to tip the European balance of power offers the clearest demonstration yet that our modern geopolitical rivals will stop at nothing to get what they want. And Beijing’s explicit approval of Russia’s actions reminds us where China’s interests lie.
The budding conflict sheds light on a broader global trend, one that has been festering slowly for years: Authoritarianism is on the rise, and democracy is increasingly under assault.
If we are going to succeed in defending freedom and democracy, we will need to preserve advantages that sustain American strength. And the international edge our domestic tech industry provides is one essential asset our leaders must protect. Over the past few weeks, these companies have taken on a crucial role in the Ukraine war — and, in so doing, have shown the world that they are an indispensable force for freedom and a key part of our arsenal against despotism.
As tanks started to roll in, the Ukrainian people took to social media to broadcast the conflict in real time to hundreds of millions of viewers across the globe. By leveraging the unparalleled reach of American tech platforms, Ukraine has dominated the information battlefield, thwarting Russia’s propaganda operation and rallying the world in support of their cause. The countless videos and images they’ve disseminated have had a profound impact on the trajectory of the conflict. They have effectively pushed the leaders of the world’s largest companies and most powerful countries to take unprecedented actions to support Ukraine and undermine Russia’s military effort and domestic economy.
Beyond just providing a platform, America’s tech industry is actively engaging in the digital battlefield. Companies such as Google, Meta, and Twitter have removed Kremlin propaganda and restricted Russian state-run media from selling ads. Others have rolled out account privacy and security protections to protect the identity and locations of users in Ukraine. Others are consulting and working with the European Union to counter Russian disinformation and temporarily disable key features. SpaceX even rushed into Ukraine dozens of Starlink terminals to help ensure the Ukrainian people maintain the internet connectivity they need to win on the battlefield. While U.S. technology companies don’t always get it right, we would not be able to count on China’s large platforms to take similar actions in defense of democracy.
While the battles continue to rage and the outcome of the war is yet to be decided, it is abundantly clear that our tech companies are uniquely positioned to serve as a force multiplier for freedom. Never before have we seen the world rally so quickly, and with such purpose, in support of the cause.
Although this war is being fought half a world away in the streets of Ukraine, the prospects of cyberwarfare threaten every corner of the globe. Indeed, Russia and our enemies have the capabilities to launch cyberattacks that would inflict massive damage on the United States and our economy. American tech companies are our first line of defense against this rapidly evolving threat. From the outset of the conflict in Ukraine, they have been working in concert with the U.S. government, as well as our foreign partners, to detect, deter, and blunt Russian cyberwarfare.
For instance, late last month, Microsoft’s Threat Intelligence Center detected a massive cyberattack targeting Ukraine’s government and financial institutions. Within hours, Microsoft executives warned U.S. officials and took steps to safeguard their network and infrastructure. This type of rapid response and coordination illustrates the crucial role American tech companies play on the cyber battlefield of the 21st century. Indeed, public-private partnerships form the backbone of America’s cyber defense strategy. This arrangement ensures that the brightest minds at our most advanced tech companies are working every day to address the rapidly evolving threats we face in cyberspace.
America is fortunate to be home to the greatest tech companies in the world. They create millions of jobs and drive transformative innovation that improves our lives on a daily basis. Over the past several weeks, they have also shown that they are an indispensable force for freedom and democracy. As authoritarianism tries to widen its reach across the globe, these companies will continue to play a more significant role in this crucial struggle.
Despite the stakes, some in Congress have taken aim at these companies. They are pushing ill-conceived legislation that would restrict the types of products certain companies can develop, dictate how they can compete, prevent them from acquiring cutting-edge technologies, and require them to share data with China and other authoritarian corporate competitors. The effects would be disastrous and wide ranging.
This is the wrong approach. We should be supporting American innovation, not undermining it.
America is in a tough battle for global tech leadership as well as fortifying democracy. More and more, technological advancement is geopolitical power. Efforts to push anti-innovation legislation that is rushed and short sighted threaten to undermine America’s global competitive edge in technology, endanger our national security, and hand China and other authoritarian regimes a permanent geopolitical advantage — to the detriment of the U.S., democracy, and the entire free world.
Chris P. Carney represented Pennsylvania’s 10th Congressional District for two terms and previously worked at the Pentagon for four years on strategic analysis of the global terrorist threat. Carney is a member of the American Edge Project.
