Nations’ Digital DNA

How History and Culture Shape Information Security in the EU, USA, and China?

Ghosts of the past in the digital present

It seems that we live in a world dominated by technology, where algorithms and bits of data rule our everyday lives. But have you ever wondered how deeply the echoes of the past are rooted in this digital world? It turns out that the way the European Union, the United States and China approach information security today – that is, the protection of our data and systems – is a fascinating story in which history and culture play a major role. It is not just about dry regulations and firewalls. It is centuries of wars, revolutions, philosophies and national traumas that have shaped their unique views on what and how to protect online. Let’s take a closer look at how Europe’s turbulent history, the American dream of freedom and the thousand-year-old tradition of the Middle Kingdom influence their strategies in cyberspace. We will also take a look at Professor Góralczyk’s book on Xi Jinping’s ‘New Long March’ to understand how old narratives are coming to life in today’s China.

The European Union

A lesson in history

Europe knows the price of conflict like few others. Centuries of wars that ravaged the continent long before the two world wars are deeply engraved in the European consciousness. It is this painful history that gave rise to an overwhelming desire for peace and the conviction that cooperation is better than competition. The European Union, at its core, is a peace project, an attempt to build lasting stability on the ruins of the past. That is why the EU’s approach to security is based on multilateralism and joint action. Even if NATO plays a key military role, the idea of a ‘European defence culture’ shows a commitment to building security on shared values and principles.

Looking back at Europe before the 1950s, we see how easily nationalism and rivalry can lead to disaster. It could be said that by focusing on integration, the EU is trying to avoid a repeat of history.

A culture of diversity, common security

We are all aware that the European Union is not a monolith, but a fascinating mosaic of cultures. Interestingly, protecting this diversity is part of its security concept. Cultural security – protecting heritage and promoting dialogue – is just as important here as traditional military security. After all, Europe’s identity lies in its cultural richness, and protecting it is the foundation of stability.

These values are clearly evident in the EU’s approach to data protection. A strong emphasis on individual rights, autonomy and dignity has resulted in some of the world’s strictest privacy laws. Interestingly, however, even within Europe itself there are differences – in the south, choice is more important, while in the east, privacy is sometimes viewed through the prism of historical coercion.

The European standard in the digital world

The road to the GDPR, the EU’s data protection regulation, is a story of growing awareness that in the digital world, our data is a treasure that needs to be protected. The European Convention on Human Rights of 1950 laid the foundations for these rights. But technology raced ahead and the 1995 rules simply ceased to be adequate. The GDPR was the answer to the challenges of the smartphone and social media era, introducing clear principles: legality, transparency and data minimisation. This shows that for Europe, information security is not just a technical fad, but a fundamental right of citizens.

The United States

From revolution to superpower

America was born out of rebellion against tyranny, out of the idea of individual freedom and limited government power. The Bill of Rights, protecting citizens from the encroachments of the state, is the best symbol of this. And it is this legacy that creates the fundamental tension that accompanies the US to this day: how to reconcile individual freedom with the need for state security? This question keeps coming back like a boomerang in American public debate.

The US’s path from isolationism to global hegemony forced it to build a powerful security apparatus. Global interests required global intelligence capabilities. But this growing power and its tools constantly brush up against the boundaries of individual freedom, which Americans hold so dear.

Privacy under scrutiny

The debate over where to draw the line between privacy and security has been raging in the US since the dawn of statehood. From alien and sedition acts, through the controversial COINTELPRO programme, to the Patriot Act after 9/11, US history is littered with moments when freedoms were curtailed in the name of security. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution is intended to protect against unreasonable surveillance, but technological developments are constantly presenting new challenges. The American approach to information security is a constant tug-of-war between the right to privacy and the demands of the security apparatus.

The Cold War and 9/11

The Cold War left a huge mark on the American approach to security. Rivalry with the Soviet Union became a justification for the expansion of intelligence agencies, the development of spy technology and the surveillance of citizens suspected of communist sympathies. Fear of an external enemy allowed for the normalisation of activities that would previously have been unthinkable.

The attacks of 11 September 2001 were another shock that redefined security priorities. The Patriot Act gave the government unprecedented surveillance entitlements. The focus shifted to the fight against terrorism, and mass data collection and network monitoring became the norm. In an atmosphere of fear, the pendulum swung heavily towards security, often at the expense of privacy.

China: Tradition, transformation and technological dominance

Millennia of centralised power

China is a 5,000-year-old civilisation, and its history is largely one of strong, centralised power. Dynasties rose and fell, but the idea of a powerful centre providing order and stability survived. The experiences of invasions, civil wars and a particularly painful ‘century of humiliation’ under foreign rule have shaped the Chinese mentality. There is a deeply rooted belief that only a strong state can guarantee unity and security.

Cultural pillars of Chinese thinking about security

Traditional Chinese values, especially Confucianism, play a key role in shaping the approach to security. The emphasis on social harmony, hierarchy and the collective good means that order and stability are valued more highly than individual freedom. Although China talks about peace, its strategic culture combines Confucian ideals with hard Realpolitik – a willingness to use force when national interests require it. Collectivism also influences the perception of privacy – the good of the community often takes precedence over the rights of the individual, which facilitates acceptance of state control over information.

Xi Jinping’s ‘New Long March’

As Professor Bogdan Góralczyk writes in his book ‘The New Long March: China in the Xi Jinping Era,’ China’s current leader has set a new course. This is an era of assertiveness and demonstrations of strength. The concept of ‘indivisible security,’ encompassing everything from cyberspace to the economy, is becoming key. Power is even more centralised, and the Chinese Communist Party has an unquestionable position. The title ‘New Long March’ itself refers to the heroic founding myth of the PRC, symbolising determination in the pursuit of national rebirth and global power. Security, in all its dimensions, is the key to achieving these goals.

The Great Firewall and cyber sovereignty

In the digital age, China is consistently pursuing its vision of security based on control. The concept of ‘cyber sovereignty’ means that Beijing treats its part of the internet as its own territory over which it exercises full authority. The famous ‘Great Firewall’, a system of censorship and content filtering, is the most well-known manifestation of this. Added to this are strict regulations on data storage in China and restrictions on data transfers abroad. Cybersecurity laws (CSL, DSL, PIPL) give the state powerful tools of control. China not only protects its digital space, but also aspires to be a global leader in this field, seeking to shape international standards on its own terms.

Three worlds, three visions of security

As can be seen, the EU, the US and China are following different paths when it comes to information security, and these paths have been shaped by history and culture. Europe, scarred by wars, focuses on cooperation and individual rights. America, born out of revolution, is constantly seeking a balance between freedom and security. China, with a thousand-year tradition of centralised power, prioritises state control and stability.

What does the future hold? The world is becoming increasingly interdependent, and the flow of data knows no borders. New technologies, such as artificial intelligence, are sure to shake up the security landscape. The tension between the need for protection and the right to privacy is unlikely to disappear. The question is: will these three powers ever be able to find common ground and cooperate in the face of global cyber threats, or are we facing an escalation of digital rivalry?

Understanding the past to shape the future

It is impossible to understand today’s information security strategies without looking to the past. How the EU, the US and China protect their digital borders reflects their unique historical and cultural experiences. Europe’s trauma of war has given rise to an emphasis on cooperation and human rights. The American spirit of freedom leads to ongoing debate about the limits of surveillance. China’s tradition of a strong state results in a priority for control. Understanding these deeply rooted differences is absolutely crucial if we want to build a more secure digital future – whether through cooperation or conscious competition.