Untangling digital, cyber, and tech diplomacy: A search for clarity of thinking and action

If you find yourself puzzled by the interchangeable use of “digital,” “cyber,” and “tech” in discussions on diplomacy, you’re not alone. Many experts and practitioners struggle to keep the terminology straight. The US Government Accountability Office recently flagged conceptual confusion as one of the three main obstacles in American cyber and digital diplomacy, alongside a shortage of trained professionals and policy silos.

But here’s the key takeaway: getting the terms right isn’t just academic nitpicking—it’s essential for effective diplomatic action.

500 issues of DiploNews have taught us one important lesson: we need to stop obsessing over the “correct” label for new forms of diplomacy. Instead, the focus should be on what these terms represent.

Are we talking about the new geopolitical landscape shaped by AI? Or the rising importance of digital topics on diplomatic agendas? Or perhaps we’re referring to how diplomats use cutting-edge tools for public diplomacy and negotiations?

At Diplo, we lean towards “digital” as the most precise term. After all, every digital development, from AI to the internet, is built on binary code—ones and zeros. Yet, we also recognize that context matters. When it comes to cybersecurity negotiations, for example, “cyber diplomacy” is the more appropriate term. “Tech diplomacy” is used when we address the interaction between national governments and tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Apple.

Let’s take a closer look at how digital (and diplomacy) terminology emerged and continues to shape diplomatic discourse.

1990s: Information and communication technology (ICT)

ICT was the first term used to describe the digital transformation of diplomacy. It remains alive in the UN’s lexicon, thanks to the World Summit on the Information Society (2003-2005) and the follow-up process. While not widely used today, ICT is a precise term that underscores the dual pillars of all digital tech: information and communication. Vladimir Radunović connected ICT and diplomacy in his masters thesis, titled ‘The Role of Information and Communication Technologies in Diplomacy and Diplomatic Services’.

1999: Cyber 

Cyber diplomacy traces its roots back to the late 1990s, as the internet rose to prominence (DiploNews 13). The term cyber originally came from the Greek word for ‘governing.‘ It gained modern relevance through Norbert Wiener’s book Cybernetics and William Gibson, who coined cyberspace in the science fiction novel Neuromancer. 

Over time, cyber became synonymous with internet-related phenomena—cybercrime, cybersecurity, and, of course, cyber diplomacy. Despite declining usage, it remains crucial in security-related contexts, such as the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention; ITU’s Global Cybersecurity Agenda; NATO’s cyber defence policy, and Estonia’s Cyber Defence Center of Excellence.

2000: E-

With the turn of the millennium came the rise of e-, short for electronic. E-commerce led the charge, and soon we had e-government, e-health, e-learning, and even e-diplomacy. E- was also the main prefix in the declarations of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, Geneva 2003, and Tunis 2005).

By 2010, Diplo introduced the E-diplomacy Initiative, with awareness-building and training events in diplomatic centres worldwide. Many issues discussed during the initiative (social media, security, openness vs. discretion in diplomacy) remain relevant today.

Though less prominent today, the prefix e- marked an important transitional phase in how diplomacy adapted to digitalization.

2010: Digital 

Digital refers to “1” and “0”—two digits, the basis of the internet, AI, software, applications, and all we experience online. In May 2010, the EU introduced a Digital Agenda for Europe, which is still the main policy framework on digitalisation in the EU. 

Since its first use in 2010 (DiploNews 165), digital diplomacy has been used in various contexts. At Diplo, digital diplomacy covers three interplays between digitalisation and diplomacy: the impact of digital developments on the geopolitical environment in which diplomacy operates, the emergence of digital topics on the diplomatic agenda, and the use of digital tools in negotiations and other diplomatic activities (see below).

Digital diplomacy started being used to describe the use of social media in public diplomacy, including Facebook, Twitter/X, and TikTok. This trend gained momentum during the 2011 Arab uprisings and remains relevant today. For example, half of the Oxford Handbook of Digital Diplomacy texts deal with public diplomacy and the use of social media for communication, propaganda, and strengthening soft power. 

2014: Net

The prefix Net almost disappeared after its initial popularity, particularly in Germany (Netzpolitik). In policy circles, it gained visibility through discussions on net neutrality and the NETmundial conference in Sao Paolo in April 2014 (DiploNews 251). NetMundial +10 was held this year. However, “net” has not been widely used. 

2017: Tech

Tech became popular with the use of Big Tech as shorthand for major digital companies, including Apple, Amazon, Meta, Google, and Microsoft. 

The prefix tech comes from the Greek word technē (τέχνη), meaning “art,” “craft,” or “skill.” It generally refers to technology, technical processes, or anything related to practical applications of scientific knowledge.

Tech is increasingly used as a standalone word, an abbreviation for technology and technical. It follows the linguistic trend for brevity in communication through truncation. Examples are tech-savvy, tech-driven, tech-sector, healthtech, and fintech. Also, techies are people working in the tech industry, whereas techlash describes the growing societal backlash against large technological firms.

Denmark coined the term tech diplomacy in 2017, when it appointed the first tech ambassador based in the Bay Area to engage with the Bay Area tech sector and other tech hubs worldwide (DiploNews 346). Thus, tech diplomacy mainly covers the practice of diplomacy engaging with the private tech sector on digital policy and emerging technology issues. 

What is the current situation?

While conceptual clarity is missing, some trends are emerging. For example, cyber diplomacy refers to negotiating cybersecurity issues in the UN and other diplomatic spaces. The European Union has both cyber diplomacy focusing on cybersecurity and digital diplomacy dealing with other standardisation, digital governance, and other digital issues. The EU will have to reconcile cyber and digital tracks in its diplomacy as cybersecurity, and overall digitalisation are closely intertwined on technological and policy levels.

The United States reconciled cyber and digital tracks by establishing the Bureau of Cyberspace and Digital Policy at the State Department.

In order to deal with the impact of digitalisation, many countries use the prefixes digital, tech, and cyber to name their strategies, ambassadors, and specialised departments. 

We can expect further complexity and confusion as there is pressure to create institutional frameworks in diplomatic services to deal with international negotiations on AI. 

What can be done?

After 25 years of observing this evolving landscape, here are a few practical recommendations based on Diplo’s research and practical experience:

Avoid debating the ‘correct’ definition.

The search for the perfect term is futile for two main reasons: first, it is a subject area in the making and in constant flux; second, the use of specific terms relates to wider considerations beyond the search for ‘truth’, such as starting new research, developing a professional career, or creating an academic/research field. 

Insist on clarity of meaning. 

We must clearly define what we mean whenever we use terms like digital, cyber, or tech diplomacy: e.g. using social media for public diplomacy, negotiating cybersecurity agreements, or acting in new AI geopolitics, among others.

Learn the basics of technology

While diplomats don’t need to be tech experts, a basic understanding of technology is crucial for navigating its political, economic, and social impact. This is particularly true as AI becomes a hot topic in global discussions.

By embracing flexibility in terminology—while demanding clarity in meaning—we can confidently navigate this new era. 

Stay up-to-date with Diplo’s courses, research, and DiploNews!