7.6
SECURITY FROM WAR, CONFLICT AND CRIME
Strengthening biosecurity at the health and security interface
The convergence of biology and technology presents both immense opportunity and unprecedented risk. Addressing the evolving biosecurity challenge requires coordinated action, as law enforcement and the health community forge stronger alliances and an integrated defence
A s we stand at the precipice of a new era, where technological advancements are redefining the fabric of our world, we must acknowledge that the future is not what we predict, but what we prevent. The rapid evolution of life sciences and related technologies such as artificial intelligence, synthetic biology and quantum technology holds tremendous promise for transformative progress, but also poses unprecedented risks. The intersection of new technologies with biological agents and toxins is particularly concerning. Advances in fields such as synthetic biology have made it easier to engineer and manipulate biological materials. Similarly, the increasing use of AI and machine learning can facilitate the development and dissemination of biological agents,
making it more challenging to detect and prevent their misuse. Biological agents and toxins occur naturally worldwide and may have legitimate uses in fields such as research, medicine, agriculture and industry. Some have the potential to improve human, animal and plant health, but others have significant impacts on global health, security and stability. But what if non-state actors, including terrorist groups, were to deliberately exploit these biological agents and toxins as weapons? In an era of globalisation and increased geopolitical
Greg Hinds, director, Counter-Terrorism, Interpol
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Health: A Political Choice – The Future of Health in a Fractured World
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