Embracing Difference: Governance of Critical Technologies in the Indo-Pacific

The Quad grouping aims to promote security and economic cooperation between the Indo-Pacific’s four leading democracies. In this, the grouping is at once a mechanism to cooperate in relation to material interests, and a commitment to fundamental democratic values. Particularly during 2020, the Quad grouping signalled an intention to increase engagement and agenda-shaping in relation to critical technologies. This is a complex undertaking: development, use and regulation of critical technologies cuts across multiple policy areas, including those outside (or at least adjacent to) the Quad’s traditional focus on security and economics. Critical technologies are also inherently social artefacts – they are shaped by, and shape, civil society and private-sector actors. This makes a purely state-led approach to their governance difficult, and arguably inappropriate. This paper considers what an approach to human rights and ethical governance of critical technologies could entail for Quad members.

Authors: Jolyon Ford and Damian Clifford

Partner: The Australian National University

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