Geopolitical tensions and state surveillance impact digital security

A report by the ESYS Foundation indicates that 64.3% of Spanish companies believe geopolitical tensions directly affect their cybersecurity. Carlos López Blanco, president of the foundation, noted that geopolitically motivated cyberattacks differ from conventional crimes because their primary goal is often to cause maximum damage rather than seeking economic profit.

The study also highlights risks stemming from a reliance on shared technology providers. According to the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026, 65% of large European companies view these dependencies as a major obstacle to incident resilience. Despite these risks, Spanish companies, including SMEs, have shown improvements in cybersecurity indicators over the last year.

Separately, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has warned that expanding state power over digital spaces threatens human rights defenders. The report highlights how increased state surveillance, facilitated by legal frameworks for public security, facial recognition, and biometric systems, can compromise anonymity and safety. The integration of artificial intelligence further enables large-scale data analysis and de-anonymization, potentially leading to self-censorship and restricted freedom of expression.