The Royal Society of Canada (RSC) and the Université du Québec en Outaouais are thrilled to present the second installment of the RSC Dialogues @ UQO series titled Cybersecurity Debt is Everyone's Problem. This topic was developed by the RSC around the 2025 G7 theme of Advanced Technology and Data Security.
The term "cybersecurity debt" refers to the accumulation of unaddressed digital risks and harms within a society. This debt arises when cybersecurity and cybercrime issues fail to elicit the appropriate responses from governments and organizations, which appear more focused on rapidly deploying digital technologies and promoting their widespread adoption than on ensuring their safety and security. Cybersecurity debt is often the byproduct of prioritizing business interests over human well-being and of a reluctance to properly regulate digital technologies and online activities.
In Western societies, individuals and businesses alike are bearing the brunt of their exposure to cybersecurity debt. For example, individuals are exposed to unprecedented levels of online fraud, resulting in billions in financial losses, while businesses are more vulnerable than ever to data breaches and ransomware attacks. Emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing will have a compounding effect on this cybersecurity debt, which could become unsustainable if we don't act quickly.
This dialogue will be led by Benoît Dupont and Atefeh Mashatan, and will assess the current level of cybersecurity debt for people and organizations, reflect on future trends and suggest practical measures that can be adopted by governments and businesses to alleviate this burden on our digital growth.
Following the presentation we will complete the cinq-à-sept with an invitation to meet the speakers and enjoy light snacks.
Click here to let us know you’re coming or to receive the virtual broadcast link.
Panelists
Benoît Dupont is a Professor of Criminology at the Université de Montréal as well as the Canada Research Chair in Cyber-resilience and the Research Chair in the Prevention of Cybercrime. In 2021, he successfully launched the Human-Centric Cybersecurity Partnership, a network of interdisciplinary scholars working in close collaboration with industry, government and non-profit partners. Professor Dupont researches the ecology of cybercrime. In 2022, he co-founded with his students a Cyber-Criminology Clinic.
Dr. Atefeh (Atty) Mashatan is a Canada Research Chair and an Associate Professor of Information Technology Management at the Toronto Metropolitan University. She is also the founding director of the Cybersecurity Research Lab and a Resident Fellow at the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst. Her research is focused on the development of novel cybersecurity designs based on emerging technologies such as IoT, Blockchain, and Quantum Computing. She investigates challenges and opportunities brought forward by these new technologies and how they change the threat landscape of cybersecurity.