Biden: critical infrastructure is off limits to cyber attacks
US president Biden proposed that ‘certain critical infrastructure should be off limits to attack, period, by cyber or any other means,’ during the Putin-Biden 16 June summit. During his press conference, Biden noted that he presented his Russian counterpart with a list of 16 US entities which are designated as critical infrastructure, such as energy and water systems. ‘Of course, the principle is one thing,’ commented Biden, ‘and it has to be backed by practice.’
In line with his statements leading up to the summit, as well as the G7 Carbis Bay communique, Biden stressed that ‘responsible countries need to take action against criminals who conduct ransomware activities on their territory.’
The leaders agreed to ‘task experts’ in both countries ‘to work on specific understandings about what’s off limits, and the follow up on specific cases’ that originated from Russia or the USA. Russian President Putin also commented on the follow up from specific cases in his press conference following the summit.
Watch Biden’s press conference in full below.
Putin held his own press conference shortly before Biden. Read about Putin’s remarks on cybersecurity here.
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