Technological Risk

Technological Risk

Emerging technologies pose new and unique threats to international stability.

BASIC monitors and assesses the impacts of disruptive technologies – such as cyber weapons, artificial intelligence, remote sensing, and drones – on nuclear command-and-control systems and delivery platforms, and provides analysis of their strategic implications and opportunities for control. Technologies are evolving at an alarming rate in both the civilian and military spheres, and create unpredictable risks that humanity must keep in check.
In 2015, BASIC started a multi-year collaboration with British Pugwash to explore technical innovations that might pose a threat to nuclear ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs), hosting roundtables with high-level scientists in the field and a major conference in September 2016 at the National Liberal Club in London. In 2017, BASIC published Hacking UK Trident with CBRN security expert Stanislav Abeymov, exploring the risks posed to Trident from offensive cyber weapons.
We are grateful for the generous support of British Pugwash, Network for Social Change, and the Polden-Puckham Charitable Foundation.

 

Programme Manager: Chris Spedding

Analysis and Publications for this Programme


Emerging technologies pose new and unique threats to international stability

NO KEY NETWORK MAP

The BASIC-N Square UK Nuclear Threat Community Network Map

We are thrilled to announce the launch of the BASIC-N Square Network Map of departments, organisations and scholars working on nuclear threat reduction in the United Kingdom. This map is intended as a ‘gift’ to the community, with hopes that it will serve as a useful tool to build connections amongst those of us based in the UK.

The production of this map was kindly funded by N Square and the New Venture Fund.

Active Programmes

BASIC believes in making progress on nuclear disarmament, arms control, and non-proliferation through multiple complementary approaches. We continuously develop our programmes – streams of research – through sustained engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, collectively searching for the art of the possible.

Our current programmes are listed below. View the current programmes page by clicking here.