Draft:Quantum Policy and Ethics

Quantum Policy and Ethics

IQM Quantum Computer

Quantum policy and ethics refers to the field of study and governance related to the ethical, legal, social, environmental, and security implications of quantum technologies. As quantum technology advances, policymakers, researchers, and ethicists are assessing how to manage risks, ensure equitable results, and guide responsible development.

Quantum technologies leverage quantum mechanical phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, to perform information processing tasks that may be inefficient or impossible for classical systems. While it remains an ever-growing field, quantum technologies have the potential to be transformative in various fields, including cryptography, optimization, simulation of physical systems, and sensing. But with that potential comes risks: privacy, security, inequality, environmental costs, and broader societal implications. Quantum policy and ethics aim to address these as quantum technologies move from theory and laboratory settings to the general public.

Ethical Considerations

Security and Cryptography

A major ethical concern is post-quantum cryptography (PQC): many public-key cryptosystems in use today (for example, RSA, ECC) would be vulnerable if large-scale, error-corrected quantum computers (also known as “cryptographically relevant quantum computers”) are built. The major ethical issues consist of:

• Data protection and privacy: Ensuring that data encrypted today remains private against future quantum attacks.
• “Harvest now, decrypt later” attacks: People may intercept and store encrypted communications now, anticipating that in the future they will have access to quantum resources to decrypt them.
• Algorithm transitions and fairness: ensuring that society and infrastructure can migrate to quantum-resistant algorithms in an equitable way (e.g.,not disadvantaging smaller organizations or less resourced communities).

Equity and Access

Quantum technologies may widen gaps between parties who can afford to develop or use them and those who cannot. Various issues can stem from this, but some major ones include global inequality based on the infrastructure that is available in certain countries, access to knowledge for people to gain technical expertise and workforce skills, and sharing benefits across fields that could benefit from quantum-enabled devices (in medicine, climate science, materials, etc.).

Privacy, Surveillance, and Dual Use

Quantum computing and communication may enable advanced forms of encryption but also more powerful capabilities for surveillance, decryption, and other applications that raise privacy and civil liberties dilemmas.

Environmental Ethics

Quantum hardware often requires extreme conditions. States such as very low temperatures, specialized infrastructure, and possibly high energy use are typically necessary, especially when error correction is involved. Lifecycle environmental impacts include manufacturing, cooling, maintenance, and energy use.

Policy and Regulatory Efforts

Post-Quantum Cryptography Roadmaps and Standards

Governments and regulatory bodies are actively planning for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptographic standards. Some major organizations and governing bodies are:

• NIST (USA): Has been leading a standardization project for post-quantum public-key algorithms; in 2024, it finalized initial PQC standards for encryption and digital signatures.
• European Union: Published a Coordinated Implementation Roadmap for the transition to PQC.
• Canada: Issued a government roadmap for migrating all federal systems to PQC, with deadlines for departmental plans.
• U.S. DHS / CISA: Issuing guidance and initiatives for federal agencies and critical infrastructure to prepare for quantum threats.

Regulatory and Policy Tools

Through the work of various organizations and governments, various policy tools and actions are being considered or have already started to be implemented. Some of these include mandates or deadlines for migrating government or critical infrastructure systems to quantum-safe cryptography, standards development and certification for cryptography, financial and R&D investments to support secure quantum-safe technologies, and international cooperation through agreements or frameworks that generalize standards, share risks, and regulate the development of quantum technologies.