In the ongoing discourse surrounding Australia's national defense, the spotlight often falls on its reliance on American power. However, a more insidious erosion of sovereignty is taking place, largely unnoticed: the country's growing dependence on technology from both the United States and China.
This burgeoning reliance on foreign technology permeates every aspect of Australian life, from individual citizens' daily routines to critical infrastructure supporting society's functioning and even national defense strategies. The consequences of this reliance have now escalated to a point of irreversibility.
Australia finds itself grappling with a significant technology gap, particularly in software development, engineering critical components, and safeguarding sensitive data. The chasm between Australia and leading technological powers like the US has widened to the extent that bridging it seems economically unfeasible, akin to attempting a rival space or nuclear weapons program.
Evidence of this dependence abounds. The ubiquitous presence of foreign-made smartphones underscores individual subjugation to technologies not designed or controlled domestically. National discussions on privacy and surveillance, while vital, are increasingly futile as foreign entities govern these realms, governed by laws distant from Australian shores.
Across the Pacific, US lawmakers are contending with the growing influence of tech giants like Google and Microsoft, yet Australia's parliament remains largely indifferent to this encroaching dependency.
David Elliot, head of Canberra's Agile Digital, remarks on the irony of American apprehension regarding tech companies' power, given their predominant position in the field.
Australia's loss of comprehension regarding imported technologies exacerbates vulnerability, as critical infrastructure relies increasingly on opaque "black box" systems. Microsoft's abrupt withdrawal from servicing foreign governments, including Australia's, underscores this vulnerability, leaving sensitive projects in disarray.
Chris Crozier, Defence's Chief Information Officer, concedes the indispensability of certain overseas companies due to the inability of sovereign capability to provide the required scale.
Local technology executives, including Rupert Taylor-Price of Vault Cloud, emphasize the dangers of ceding control of IT platforms, highlighting the loss of sovereignty over critical infrastructure.
The consequences of this technological dependence manifest starkly in crises such as the Black Summer fires, where delayed access to vital satellite imagery underscored reliance on foreign-controlled systems.
As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly pervasive, Elliot warns of the risks posed by overseas-trained AI systems, particularly regarding decision-making processes.
ASIC's exploration of AI technologies for parliamentary document summarization offers a glimpse into a future where vital institutions rely on foreign-trained, black-box technologies, raising concerns about bias and control.
In conclusion, Australia's escalating dependence on foreign technology poses a significant threat to its sovereignty across various sectors, necessitating urgent attention and strategic action to mitigate risks and regain control over critical systems.
