former NSA & Cyber Command Chief Warns of Eroding Neutrality in Tech as Geopolitical Tensions Rise
LAS VEGAS, NV – Paul Nakasone, recently retired director of the National Security Agency and commander of U.S.Cyber Command, signaled a significant shift in the landscape of technology and national security during a public discussion at the Defcon hacking conference Friday. Nakasone warned that the increasing politicization of technology, coupled wiht escalating global conflicts, is making true neutrality increasingly untenable.
The conversation, led by Defcon founder Jeff Moss, centered on the intertwined challenges of artificial intelligence, cybercrime, and the critical need for collaborative digital defense. Moss opened the discussion by observing that technology has become inherently political, creating conflicts of interest for nearly everyone involved. Nakasone echoed this sentiment, pointing to the recent launch of the Trump administration’s “Stargate” AI initiative – unveiled alongside industry leaders from Oracle, SoftBank, and OpenAI – and its timing coinciding with the release of the Chinese AI platform DeepSeek as a telling example.
Nakasone highlighted a critical disconnect between the demographics of the tech sector and the U.S. federal government. He recounted consistently being substantially younger than the technologists he met during quarterly visits to innovation hubs like Silicon Valley, Texas, and Boston, while simultaneously being among the younger voices at policy tables in Washington D.C. He characterized this disparity as “a problem for our nation.”
The discussion largely focused on countering threats from established adversaries, including China, Iran, North Korea, and russia, as well as addressing specific digital dangers.nakasone specifically called out the lack of progress in combating ransomware attacks, labeling them “among the great scourges” facing the country.
Moss repeatedly attempted to broaden the conversation to encompass the broader geopolitical instability stemming from conflicts in Ukraine, Israel, and escalating tensions involving russia and Iran. He expressed a sense of urgency and a desire for strategies to regain control amidst the chaos.
Nakasone acknowledged Moss’s concerns, and alluded to the potential for a further erosion of neutrality. He predicted that revisiting this discussion at next year’s Defcon conference will likely reveal a significantly altered landscape. “I sense not [that we will still be able to maintain neutrality],” Nakasone stated. “I think it’s going to be very, very challenging.”
This warning comes at a pivotal moment as governments worldwide grapple with the implications of rapidly evolving technologies and increasingly complex geopolitical realities. The discussion underscores the growing recognition that the digital realm is no longer separate from, but deeply intertwined with, conventional power dynamics and national security concerns. The call for stronger partnerships and a more agile approach to digital defense signals a potential shift in strategy as the world navigates this new era of technological and geopolitical uncertainty.
