The European Union is ready to use artificial intelligence and other tools to create a "cyber defence" to protect critical infrastructure and various sectors from threats, officials said.
The move is enshrined in a new piece of legislation, the "Cyber Solidarity Act," which was agreed by negotiators from EU member states and the European Parliament.
The law, which needs final approval by the parliament and the European Council, "will use state-of-the-art tools and infrastructures, such as artificial intelligence and advanced data analytics, to rapidly detect cyber threats and incidents," the European Commission said in a statement.
This will be done by setting up a European Cyber Security Alert System designed to provide real-time information to authorities.
The initiative comes at a time when EU countries are facing growing threats from cyber sabotage as infrastructure is increasingly connected online and artificial intelligence potentially allows malicious actors to better exploit vulnerabilities.
"It comes at a crucial time for EU cybersecurity as the bloc's cyber threat landscape continues to be influenced by geopolitical events," the statement said, AFP reported.
Under the law, a cybersecurity emergency mechanism will also be set up to oversee preparedness in healthcare, energy and other critical sectors.
It will be able to use "trusted providers" in the EU's cyber security reserve to help EU institutions or states - or even external states linked to the bloc - counter large-scale attacks.
To this end, EU negotiators agreed to update the existing Cybersecurity Act, allowing for the adoption of European certification schemes for which such providers could apply.
"The Cyber Solidarity Act is an important step towards creating a European cyber shield," said EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton.
The enhanced cooperation it will bring will contribute to the "security of our citizens", he stressed. /BGNES
