Quantum-safe global encryption policy

Abstract

Every day, individuals use the Internet to communicate, gather information, and engage in commercial transactions. Encryption renders such activities secure and possible in the first place. While interest in encryption policy has fluctuated among policymakers for the past three decades, this paper argues for the need to promote strong encryption at a global level. The paper sheds light on the risks posed by quantum computing to national security, wherein breached encryption could compromise classified information, military intelligence, sensitive devices, and critical infrastructures. The argument for a worldwide encryption policy is further substantiated by the looming spectre of profound global power asymmetries. As the evolution of quantum technology remains concentrated within a select cohort of nations, those in possession of functional quantum computers could gain unprecedented advantages and exploit such technological supremacy. To buttress this assertion, this paper employs the logic of the ‘least trusted country problem’ to underscore the fragility of global security in the face of such imbalances. In response, this paper introduces a three-fold strategy designed to pave the path towards a quantum-secure future. The strategy encompasses the pivotal elements of post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and quantum random number generators. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in implementing these measures, including the projected decade-long timeline for establishing standardized solutions, the paper underscores the urgency of confronting the imminent quantum computing menace in a proactive manner. By adhering to these strategic imperatives, the global community stands poised to reinforce encryption practices against the potent capabilities that quantum computing wields. In so doing, the security and integrity of information exchange can be preserved in an ever more interconnected world.