Mauritz Kop and Mark Lemley Host High-Level EU Cybersecurity Delegation at Stanford Law
Stanford, CA – On February 26, 2024, the Stanford Center for Responsible Quantum Technology (RQT), a leading interdisciplinary hub operating under the aegis of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology, had the distinct honor of hosting a high-level cybersecurity delegation from the European Commission. The meeting, led by the Center’s Founding Director, Mauritz Kop, and Professor Mark A. Lemley, Director of the Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology, underscored the growing importance of transatlantic dialogue in shaping the future of digital security and responsible innovation in the quantum age.
The Stanford Center for RQT is dedicated to steering the development and application of quantum technologies toward outcomes that are not only innovative but also equitable, transparent, and beneficial for society at large. Its mission is to proactively address the complex ethical, legal, societal, policy and interoperability implications of quantum advancements, fostering a global ecosystem grounded in democratic values and human rights. The Center was officially inaugurated on December 6, 2023, by His Excellency Mark Rutte, then Prime Minister of the Netherlands and the current Secretary General of NATO, a testament to the geopolitical significance of its work. This recent meeting with the EU delegation builds on that foundation, reinforcing the Center’s role as a crucial bridge between Silicon Valley’s technological frontier and the world’s leading policymakers.
The dialogue centered on some of the most pressing challenges and opportunities at the intersection of quantum technology and cybersecurity, including building global capacity for responsible innovation and aligning EU and US national security strategies.
Mauritz Kop and Mark Lemley Host High-Level EU Cybersecurity Delegation at Stanford Law School.
The EU Cybersecurity Delegation at Stanford RQT
The European Commission’s Cybersecurity Delegation was led by Gerard de Graaf, the Senior Envoy for Digital to the U.S. and Head of the European Union Office in San Francisco. A veteran of the European Commission with a distinguished career spanning several key digital policy areas, Mr. de Graaf is at the forefront of the EU’s efforts to promote a human-centric, ethical, and secure digital transition. His role involves strengthening transatlantic cooperation on digital regulation, from data governance and AI to cybersecurity and platform accountability. Mr. de Graaf, who was also present at the Center’s inauguration, has been a pivotal figure in shaping the EU’s landmark digital policies, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). His leadership in the San Francisco office is instrumental in fostering dialogue between European regulators and the heart of the global tech industry.
Accompanying Mr. de Graaf were Joanna Smolinska, Deputy Head of the EU Office in San Francisco and a key figure in transatlantic tech diplomacy, and Ilse Rooze, a Seconded National Expert at the EU Office who brings deep expertise in digital policy and international relations.
Representing Stanford were Mauritz Kop and Professor Mark A. Lemley. Mr. Kop is a pioneering scholar in the governance of emerging technologies, with a focus on quantum, AI, and intellectual property. As the Founding Director of the RQT Center, his work is dedicated to creating robust legal and ethical frameworks to ensure that transformative technologies are developed and deployed responsibly. Professor Lemley is the William H. Neukom Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and one of the world's most cited scholars in intellectual property and technology law. His extensive work on innovation, competition, and the digital economy provides a critical legal and economic lens through which to view the challenges of the quantum era.
The Quantum Cybersecurity Challenge: Preparing for Q-Day
A central theme of the discussion was the looming threat that fault-tolerant quantum computers pose to global cybersecurity. The immense processing power of these future machines will render much of the world’s current cryptographic infrastructure obsolete. This critical juncture, often referred to as “Q-Day” or the “Quantum Apocalypse,” is the moment when a quantum computer will be capable of breaking widely used encryption standards like RSA and ECC, which protect everything from financial transactions and government communications to personal data and critical infrastructure.
The implications of Q-Day are profound. Malicious actors could potentially decrypt vast archives of stolen encrypted data—a scenario known as "harvest now, decrypt later." This retroactive decryption capability poses a severe threat to long-term data security, national security, and economic stability.
In his opening remarks, Mauritz Kop emphasized the urgency of a proactive, coordinated global response. The conversation explored the transition to Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), a new generation of cryptographic algorithms designed to be resistant to attacks from both classical and quantum computers. The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is in the final stages of standardizing a suite of PQC algorithms, a process closely watched by governments and industries worldwide. The delegation discussed the immense logistical, technical, and financial challenges of migrating global IT systems to these new technical standards—a process that is expected to take more than a decade and require unprecedented public-private collaboration.
The discussion also touched upon other quantum security technologies, such as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which uses the principles of quantum mechanics to create secure communication channels. While PQC focuses on developing new mathematical problems that are hard for quantum computers to solve, QKD offers a physics-based approach to security. The participants explored how these different technologies could complement each other in a future-proof security architecture.
Transatlantic Cooperation: A United Front for a Quantum-Safe & Secure Digital Future
The meeting highlighted a strong consensus on the need for robust transatlantic cooperation. Both the EU and the US are making significant investments in quantum research and cybersecurity, and alignment on standards, regulatory principles, and ethical guidelines is crucial to avoiding fragmentation and fostering a quantum-safe & secure, interoperable global digital ecosystem.
Gerard de Graaf elaborated on the EU’s strategic vision, which emphasizes a values-based approach to technology governance. The EU’s policies are designed to ensure that technological progress reinforces democratic principles, fundamental rights, and the rule of law. This aligns closely with the mission of the Stanford RQT Center, which advocates for embedding these values into the very architecture of new technologies.
Professor Lemley provided insights from a US perspective, discussing the interplay between innovation, competition policy, interoperability, and national security. He stressed the importance of maintaining an open and competitive environment to drive the development of quantum technologies while implementing targeted safeguards to mitigate risks. The dialogue underscored the shared understanding that neither security nor innovation can be pursued in isolation; they must be advanced in concert.
The exchange of perspectives was a vital step in building the mutual understanding and trust necessary for effective collaboration. As nations navigate the dual-use nature of quantum technology—with its immense potential for both societal benefit and harm—strategic alliances among democratic nations are indispensable.
Conclusion: Fostering Dialogue for a Responsible Quantum Future
The meeting between the Stanford Center for RQT and the EU cybersecurity delegation was more than a diplomatic formality; it was a substantive working session that advanced the critical conversation on one of the most significant technological transitions in human history. It reaffirmed the shared commitment of both European and American stakeholders to a future where the revolutionary power of quantum computing is harnessed for the good of all, and its risks are managed wisely and proactively.
As the quantum age is upon us, institutions like the Stanford Center for RQT play an invaluable role. By convening leading thinkers from academia, industry, and government, the Center is helping to lay the intellectual and ethical groundwork for the responsible stewardship of quantum technology. The dialogue with Mr. de Graaf and his team is a powerful example of the Center's mission in action—fostering the global collaboration and foresight needed to build a secure, equitable, and prosperous quantum future.
Gerard De Graaf, Joanna Smolinska, Mark Lemley, and Mauritz Kop.