The Home Affairs, Interior, Security, and Immigration Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to shared democratic values and national security. In a joint communique from the Five Country Ministerial 2024, they outlined efforts to address key security challenges.
The ministers emphasized the dual nature of Artificial Intelligence (AI), recognizing its potential benefits while acknowledging risks such as security vulnerabilities and misuse for spreading disinformation. They committed to sharing information on managing AI risks while shaping international standards.
On foreign interference, the ministers highlighted threats to democratic processes from state-sponsored disinformation. "It is unacceptable for any foreign government to target members of our communities," they stated. The countries aim to enhance research security against espionage by exchanging best practices.
Cybersecurity remains a priority due to increasing cyber threats affecting citizens and infrastructure. The Five Countries plan to disrupt malicious operations and support initiatives like the Global Fraud Summit. They also stress public-private collaboration in securing data flows.
Domestic security concerns include online extremist content's impact on youth. As part of efforts with the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), they call for broader technology company involvement in addressing extremist content.
The communique underscores maintaining lawful access for investigating serious crimes like terrorism and child abuse. It acknowledges emerging technologies' role in proliferating child sexual exploitation material and calls for tech companies' innovation in safeguarding children online.
Regarding migration, the ministers recognize pressures on border systems due to global migration trends. They emphasize combating human smuggling while supporting safe migration pathways and enforcing immigration laws.
The Five Country Ministerial serves as a platform for addressing shared national security issues through collaboration and exchange of best practices among these nations.
