Huckabee compares Israel to Taiwan, urges US cooperation with both against cyber threats

During a panel discussion at Tel Aviv University's Cyber Week & AI Week, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee likened Taiwan to Israel, highlighting the similarities between the two democracies. Both nations have made significant contributions to technology, fostering innovation while upholding freedom of speech, freedom of movement, and equal roles for women in government and the private sector. Huckabee attributed this technological progress to the values shared by these nations.

The ambassador emphasized the importance of cooperation between Israel, Taiwan, and the United States in the face of escalating cyber threats. He warned of the potential consequences of such attacks, stating that "imagine the capacity to use technology in a way that, through the abuse of cyber ability, would in fact end up either injuring or killing masses of people."

Huckabee cautioned that "every night when I go to sleep, there are people who are wide awake somewhere in the world trying to figure out how to use technology as a tool of destruction." He stressed that the work carried out by professionals in this field is crucial in protecting the world's critical infrastructure, systems, and essential services.

Taiwan's representative, Ya-Ping (Abby) Lee, echoed the significance of international cooperation in the age of artificial intelligence. She pointed out that "technology is like fire," capable of both benefiting humanity and causing harm. Lee stressed the need for international collaboration to develop new solutions and strengthen digital trust, as geographic borders in the digital domain are non-existent; instead, nations are united by shared values.