State Department to Form Cyber Bureau

The United States is planning to create a new government department that will deal with matters of digital policy and cybersecurity. 

On Monday, Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced plans for the State Department to launch a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, in an email to the department's workforce. 

In the email, Blinken reportedly stated: "This structure will provide us with greater leadership and accountability to drive the diplomatic agenda with the interagency and abroad and build on the extraordinary work that is already taking place across the Department."

In addition to the bureau, the Biden administration reportedly plans to create the new position of cyber envoy that will be focused on critical and emerging technology.

In a briefing held yesterday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: "Pending consultations with Congress, we plan to establish a Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy, led by a Senate-confirmed ambassador-at-large, which will focus on three key areas: international cyberspace security, international digital policy, and digital freedom."

Price added that the creation of the bureau will "integrate the core security, economic, and values components" of the Biden administration's cyber agenda. 

"We also plan to establish a new special envoy for critical and emerging technology to lead the immediate technology diplomacy agenda with our allies, partners, and across the range of multilateral fora," said Price.

A journalist at the briefing  state department cyber bureau