Information Security Policy in the SCO Member States

   This study is devoted to studying the key priorities of the SCO member states in the field of information security, as well as identifying the role of geopolitical contradictions and their impact on cooperation.

   Aim and Tasks. Based on the theoretical material and practical analysis of the rating and official documents, to identify the specifics of cooperation between the SCO member states in matters of information security. To analyze the indicators of innovative development of the SCO member states in the Global Innovation Index (GII), identify leaders in this field; to study the level of information security of the participating countries; to identify contradictions and to consider the general priorities of the policy of the states of cooperation in the field of information security.

   Methods. The work is based on the analysis of official documents, the comparative method of quantitative indicators, the case study method and synthesis.

   Results. The study showed that, depending on the level of innovation development, the SCO states see threats in the information space differently. Thus, for countries with technological leadership, cybersecurity, the establishment of common standards and the development of international cooperation are of paramount importance. Less technologically advanced states focus on preventing and eliminating threats of a domestic political nature. The factor of geopolitical contradictions has an impact on the cooperation of individual states within the organization in the development of the ICT sector (for example of Pakistan and China). However, within the framework of the SCO, states strive for constructive dialogue and the development of common approaches to regulating the field of information security.

   Conclusions. The results of the study demonstrate the importance of the level of technological development of the SCO member states in building their own information policy and proposed initiatives within the SCO. China and Russia are the undisputed technological leaders in the organization. As their ally, the Republic of Belarus strives to improve its information security system. At the same time, Pakistan, being a geopolitical opponent of India, has established cooperation with China on the development of the ICT sector within the framework of the “One Belt — One Road” project. Analyzing the trend of innovative development, we can note the significant successes of India, Iran and Kazakhstan. In the case of Kazakhstan, it is important to point out that the republic is a technological leader in the Central Asian region, and therefore the issues of building information security are a strategic focus. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan are focusing on solving internal problems in the information space, but they are actively putting forward their initiatives in this area within the SCO.

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