TechTank 'Navigating Technology and National Security’ with author Justin Sherman
Dec 22, 2025
Justin Sherman, founder of Global Cyber Strategies and author of 'Navigating Technology and National Security,' dives into how national security influences technology regulation. He discusses historical patterns in tech security policies, like export controls and investment screening. Justin emphasizes the necessity of a national security toolkit to combat intertwined threats and suggests that stronger privacy laws can enhance security. He also highlights risks from European data brokers and offers practical steps for businesses to adapt to evolving regulatory landscapes.
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National Security Frames Tech Governance
- The U.S. often governs technology through national security powers rather than consumer protections.
- That approach trades secrecy and narrow interests for rapid, security-focused control of tech and data.
Repeating Patterns In Tech Controls
- Historical patterns repeat: industry complains about secrecy and wants clear lists of restricted technologies.
- Governments repeatedly draw bright lines for risk, but those lines shift with politics and context.
Old Rules, New Digital Problems
- Many national security tools were built for physical goods, not intangible data or AI models.
- Applying old regimes to digital sharing and cloud-era risks creates mismatches and enforcement gaps.