Good Cyber Stories Initiative

An international coalition committed to promoting positive action in cyberspace.

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On 13 November 2020, the Good Cyber Stories Initiative was launched at the Paris Peace Forum 2020 during the session “From Words to Action: Launch of the Good Cyber Stories Initiative”. On this occasion, Fitriani Bintang Timur (Centre for Strategic and International Studies, Indonesia), Samir Saran (Observer Research Foundation, India), Marietje Schaake (CyberPeace Institute, Switzerland) and Patryk Pawlak (EU Institute for Security Studies, Belgium) focused on concrete mechanisms and solutions for the success of international cooperation, as well as on the key factors to consider in order to move from words to action when it comes to conflict, peace and trust in cyberspace.

An initiative with a positive focus

The positive impact of the internet and digital platforms on our societies is undeniable. However, it is often overshadowed by the narrative about the risks it poses to states and societies. How we prepare to address those risks and the resulting vulnerabilities will ultimately shape the direction in which our societies evolve.

The Good Cyber Stories Initiative – a multilateral undertaking by Australia, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Estonia, France, Ghana, Mexico, the United Kingdom and the European Union – aims to identify and showcase projects that have positive impact on people’s lives and countries’ policies, and that create an overall positive environment. Telling their stories is a first step to re-centring the focus on the individual and the importance of the multi-stakeholder approach in designing and implementing cyber policies more effectively.

Explore Good Cyber Stories 2020

During the pilot phase of the Initiative, Canada, Estonia, France, the United Kingdom and the European Union have selected seven projects and initiatives that reflect the spirit of the Good Cyber Stories Initiative.

The Good Cyber Stories 2020 are:

Women and International Security in Cyberspace Fellowship by Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and New Zealand

GLACY+ by the European Union and the Council of Europe

National Cyber Security Index by e-Governance Academy in Estonia

Mafindo from Indonesia

K+LAB by Karisma Foundation from Colombia

Ahwaa by Majal from Bahrain

What are Good Cyber Stories?

‘Good Cyber Stories’ are concrete initiatives that contribute to open, free, secure, stable, accessible and peaceful cyberspace. Not only do they present actionable solutions and ideas, but they also provide guidance about how specific initiatives can be scaled up and/or replicated in other political, legal and societal contexts. Possible topics could include, among others, due diligence, critical infrastructure protection and supply chain security, the prevention of the proliferation of malicious ICT and the use of harmful hidden functions. Furthermore, Good Cyber Stories may refer to internationally agreed good practices and positive duties, such as information exchange, mutual assistance, terrorist and criminal prosecution, and responsible reporting of ICT vulnerabilities and remedies.

 

If you wish to learn more about a particular initiative, please get in touch.

Learn more about what makes a Good Cyber Story

Read a story and multiply its impact

There are abundant examples of projects and initiatives that have a positive impact on their communities or countries, but this impact is often localised due to a limited understanding of the elements that contributed to their success. We aim to multiply that positive impact.

But how can a successful initiative in Indonesia be replicated in Colombia? Under what conditions can an initiative be scaled up in order to multiply its positive impact? These are questions that the Initiative aims to answer in order to support organisations who wish to build on the success of their peers.

We do so by:

  • Highlighting the opportunities for you to get involved in an ongoing Good Cyber Story;
  • Identifying how your ongoing projects and initiatives could benefit from the experiences of an ongoing Good Cyber Story;
  • Assisting you with designing a project and initiative based on the lessons from an ongoing Good Cyber Story.

Project DNA - a unique approach

To spread the positive impact of each Good Cyber Story, we profile its DNA – a set of specific qualities (‘genes’) that are particularly relevant for the effective and impactful implementation of the project. All projects identified as Good Cyber Stories have a unique ‘DNA’, so the purpose of this exercise is to identify the elements that might contribute to the success of the replication/scaling-up efforts in other countries and communities.

Over time, the inclusion of new projects will contribute to mapping a genome of Good Cyber Stories implemented globally.

Read more about how we identify a project’s DNA
Time to tell your story!

A call for Good Cyber Stories 2021 will open in January 2021. All submissions should relate to the theme ‘Peace and Trust in Cyberspace’ inspired by the International Year of Peace and Trust proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The International Year constitutes a means of mobilising international efforts to promote peace and trust among nations on the basis of political dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation in order to build sustainable peace, solidarity and harmony. What does a Good Cyber Story Initiative offer? The main advantage of being selected is the assistance we provide in telling your story in an accessible way. This in turn will make your ideas and solutions more visible. Ultimately, we hope that the project or the initiative that you have put your energy into will inspire others to act. The 2021 edition of the Good Cyber Stories Initiative will be aligned with the activities under the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace.

Time to tell your story!

A call for Good Cyber Stories 2021 will open in January 2021. All submissions should relate to the theme ‘Peace and Trust in Cyberspace’ inspired by the International Year of Peace and Trust proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. The International Year constitutes a means of mobilising international efforts to promote peace and trust among nations on the basis of political dialogue, mutual understanding and cooperation in order to build sustainable peace, solidarity and harmony.

What does a Good Cyber Story Initiative offer? The main advantage of being selected is the assistance we provide in telling your story in an accessible way. This in turn will make your ideas and solutions more visible. Ultimately, we hope that the project or the initiative that you have put your energy into will inspire others to act.

The 2021 edition of the Good Cyber Stories Initiative will be aligned with the activities under the Paris Call for Trust and Security in Cyberspace.