Cybersecurity Debt is Everyone's Problem

The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and the Université du Québec en Outaouais are thrilled to present the second installment of the RSC Dialogues @ UQO series titled Cybersecurity Debt is Everyone's Problem. This topic was developed by the RSC around the 2025 G7 theme of Advanced Technology and Data Security.

The term "cybersecurity debt" refers to the accumulation of unaddressed digital risks and harms within a society. This debt arises when cybersecurity and cybercrime issues fail to elicit the appropriate responses from governments and organizations, which appear more focused on rapidly deploying digital technologies and promoting their widespread adoption than on ensuring their safety and security. Cybersecurity debt is often the byproduct of prioritizing business interests over human well-being and of a reluctance to properly regulate digital technologies and online activities.

This dialogue will be led by Dr. Benoît Dupont and Dr. Atefeh Mashatan, and will assess the current level of cybersecurity debt for people and organizations, reflect on future trends and suggest practical measures that can be adopted by governments and businesses to alleviate this burden on our digital growth.