Chinese quantum computers are posing a threat to cybersecurity in the West

Lucia Kobzová / May 6, 2022

China’s autocratic regime is abusing its technological capacities not only to suppress the freedom of its citizens, but also to launch cyber-attacks on foreign countries. It seems that China will ominously become a leader in the development of quantum technologies in the near future. Consequently, the security of blockchain technology, which is highly effective and widely used, could be endangered. This could cause significant problems for Western states that are heavily dependent on the security offered by blockchain technology.

Even though the technological revolution has brought many positive phenomena, individuals have become easy targets of cyber-attacks which enable cyber attackers to steal sensitive data. Such data can be used to manipulate individual voting behaviour, as was apparent in the Cambridge Analytica scandal. Therefore, it is necessary to develop reliable cybersecurity protocols that can guarantee the protection of our data. After a myriad of unsuccessful attempts, a new revolutionary technology emerged now known as blockchain.

The cybersecurity revolution of blockchain

Many people welcomed the breakthrough invention of blockchain since they believed that it would dramatically contribute to data security and general security in cyberspace. For this reason, many states have plans to commence using blockchain in various areas, starting with services offered to citizens and the creation of ecosystems to secure the secrecy of classified documents, resulting in increased cybersecurity capabilities in military institutions. Blockchain, inter alia, stands out because of its transparency, which is advantageous for usage in public services for preventing corruption since transactions can be easily verified. For instance, after the introduction of digital policies based on blockchain in Estonia, which is considered the world leader in digitalization, the trust of citizens towards state institutions significantly increased. This relatively high dependency on blockchain brings various challenges due to its fast technological development. However, experts are afraid that quantum computers might pose a threat to the security of blockchain in the future, since it could disrupt blockchain’s encrypting mechanisms. Quantum computers, unlike conventional processors, are not limited to binary calculations, and are therefore capable of processing dramatically higher number of operations compared to regular computers. This could allow them to crack the encryption that secures bitcoin and other technologies, leading some to warn of an impending “quantum apocalypse”.

China as a leader of quantum technologies

It is not difficult to imagine the level of damage such high-performing technologies like quantum computers could do in the hands of an autocratic regime which is already responsible for numerous cyber-attacks on democratic countries. From the geopolitical perspective, China has been attempting to assert dominance over the US especially. However, the real breaking point would come if China were to be the first state to develop quantum computers. The technology could be used to destroy or corrupt the cyber infrastructure of other states. This scenario is far from improbable, mainly because China already invests $10 billion per year in the development of quantum technologies, which is a much larger amount than other states allocate for this purpose (by comparison, the USA invests $1.2 billion). The reason is that China’s primary objective in its digitalization plan is the development of quantum technologies.

It’s not too late; the problem is the divided approach of the West

Despite the fact that Western countries are lagging behind in regards to the development of quantum computers, the race is far from lost. It is necessary to put aside protectionist national interests and unite pro-democratic forces and experts who are capable of reversing this situation. If we do not want to live in an international community that is dominated by a country which oppresses its own population without any barriers, the only way is to unite forces and begin to cooperate in the development of quantum technologies.