Author: Mario Ramón Duarte – 04/09/2026
CYBERSPACE AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: ETHICAL AND REGULATORY CHALLENGES
When analyzing the issues pertaining to this new era in human history, known as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” or “Age of Digitalization,” one of the most prominent today due to the numerous questions surrounding it and the multiple consequences arising from its use, it is clear that to date there is no global regulation of cyberspace or universal ethical framework regarding artificial intelligence. This new technology stands out above all others, becoming the central axis of this unique and unprecedented era in human history, and is receiving increasing emphasis in its study from diverse sectors of society and in our very environment, influencing how we relate to one another. Undoubtedly, Artificial Intelligence (AI), as mentioned above, constitutes the core of this new era. And another element that plays a key role in this era of digitalization is Cyberspace, that famous environment in which we are all immersed, which, according to geopolitics, is presented as the new fifth element, the space where all these new technologies are developed and to which the great powers we know worldwide, including the US and China, have launched themselves into a struggle for dominance. But this would be meaningless if it were not assimilated, studied, developed, and regulated through joint actions, and not from isolated national structures that lack the necessary global consensus for these difficult times, which humanity is experiencing at its very core. However, I insist, Cyberspace, like Artificial Intelligence, still lacks global regulation, even though these essential elements of this New Normal must undoubtedly be adequately regulated. Because of their dizzying advance, there is only one step to cross the border into the unknown, which, among other things, could change the essence of humanity forever, as we know it. Hence the vital importance of its study and urgent regulation.
In the words of Dr. Roberto Uzal (Director of the Master’s Program in Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense at the University of Buenos Aires), who wrote the foreword to my book, “Fourth Industrial Revolution: Strategic Analysis,” the expert in the field states emphatically: “…in this regard, the expression ‘technological singularity’ is cited, which refers to a point on the timeline, a date at which humanity will perceive and admit that the Kasparov effect (the world chess champion serially defeated by the computer Deep Blue) has extended to engineers, doctors, military commanders, and other professions and activities,” adding: “…Artificial Intelligence will have clearly surpassed Human Intelligence.” He continues: “The brilliant mathematician John von Neumann anticipated the convergence toward the Technological Singularity in the 1950s.” Currently, governments and corporations are preparing their engineers to negotiate with computers; Computer programming will be one of the areas where Artificial Intelligence will replace Human Intelligence. In the 4th Industrial Revolution, human interfaces will disappear between the cyber environment and the computational artifacts associated with each node of the production processes.
The programs will be so complex that they will be difficult for human programmers to develop. Concepts like Moore’s Law and Exponential Technologies are already commonplace. The relationship between linear and exponential technologies is a defining tool for evaluating the economy and growth potential of nation-states; therefore, the greater the relative contribution of exponential technologies to their gross domestic product, the greater the well-being of the inhabitants of that nation-state.
Undoubtedly, given the expert’s compelling predictions about a future we are already experiencing, one of the major shortcomings and shortcomings of international multilateral organizations, due to the lack of ethical and regulatory frameworks, is the qualitative and quantitative increase in AI-based threats and countermeasures originating in cyberspace. This situation, awaiting global regulation, creates more than just uncertainty about what awaits us in the near future. These ideas, outlined back in 2020, took less than five years to materialize in one way or another. While the events unfolded within a simulation, where the multinational Anthropic lost control of its Artificial Intelligence during a security test (three AI models of its assistant CLAUDE managed to connect to the internet and compromise the systems of three organizations during a series of cybersecurity assessments—similar to what happened with OpenAI some time ago), this outcome raised many questions and is undeniably worrying. Therefore, from my personal perspective as an analyst and specialist in these issues relevant to our current historical moment, I believe it is imperative to develop a Technological Social Contract, coupled with a universal ethical dialogue surrounding the points raised in this article. This is crucial to highlight the boundary of the discussion, where, as we have said, the very condition of humankind as we know it is at stake, without ethical and normative regulation.
On the one hand, I want to emphasize that AI is undoubtedly becoming increasingly ubiquitous in our daily lives, not only in smartphones and voice assistants, but also as a driver of many automation and robotic processes, which have lightened the workload in administration, logistics, accounting, and human resources departments. We see AI-powered solutions in virtually every sector imaginable, and this trend will continue to grow significantly over time.
On the other hand, we must understand and bear in mind that our persistent demand from this platform for immediate regulation of both AI and cyberspace stems from the fact that, currently (and for some time now), the problems that arise daily, primarily for internet users, are rapidly increasing, reaching the point of constituting a pandemic in the virtual realm. These include cybercrimes such as grooming, sexting, cyberbullying, mobbing, the deep web, the dark net, scams, fraud, forgery, and fake news, among others. But above all, and I believe this is the most critical aspect, presenting it as a global threat, is the use of this new technology in warfare. This constitutes an urgent global policy issue that cannot and must not be allowed to slip out of human control, as it could lead to major catastrophes for humanity.
I repeat, we believe that proper ethical and normative regulation is necessary for both AI and cyberspace, with the participation of all sectors of our society, including the social, cultural, educational, economic, political, and religious spheres. We must all participate in this Technological Social Contract and Universal Ethical Dialogue, understanding that AI is at the root of the epochal shift we are experiencing. We believe that highly beneficial changes for humanity can be achieved if it goes hand in hand with the Common Good. In other words, for technological progress to be truly meaningful, it must first and foremost be oriented toward respecting human dignity and the dignity of creation—that is, at their service. Along these lines, Dr. Gustavo Beliz, now a member of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, aptly states that: Equality 4.0 means not only discussing macroeconomics but also providing micro-social policies to combat new forms of slavery. The same author warned about a technological global warming with both positive and negative aspects, given the abuse of technology, and therefore also agrees on the urgency of its regulation.
Finally, I want to expressly state that the preceding academic analysis of such sensitive topics, so far removed from our immediate future, should constitute an urgent State Policy on global governance and be an explicit part of the agenda of our countries that make up the global community. These issues cannot be delayed any longer and require urgent attention, given that in the vast universe of cyberspace, where cybersecurity and cyber defense are failing to gain traction, both ordinary users and our countries’ cyber borders are defenseless. For example, in Latin America, we still lack a cyber army of highly professionalized individuals to address the increasingly frequent cyber threats; our country is a clear example of this. Therefore, it is crucial to seek strategic solutions to certain issues that are currently shaping the global agenda, such as the struggle for technological supremacy, for instance, in the fields of AI and cyberspace. More than ever, we must remember that a technocracy devoid of values leads to societies with means but no ends. The task lies in striving for a science with conscience and understanding that technology, in the words of Pope Francis, is very positive, but without regulation and in the wrong hands, there is no indication that it can be used for the benefit of humanity. Along the same lines, Leo XIV, through his Magnifica Humanitas, advocates for a soul for technology, in the face of the dangers reflected especially in the use of AI, placing human dignity at the center, and exhorting us to guide the technological process from the perspective of the Social Doctrine of the Church, the common good, justice, and fraternity, so that it does not become dehumanizing. The clock of history tells us that the time is now.
Dr. Mario Ramón Duarte – Lawyer (UCASAL); Municipal Administrative Judge (2009-2020/Sauce-Ctes-Arg); Academic, AICTEH (Valencia, Spain); Specialist in Public Law: Pro-Municipality (UCSF); Specialist in Citizen Security and Crime Prevention (Ilades); Specialist in Cybersecurity and Cyberdefense (Dossier Geopolitico).
SOURCES CONSULTED:
- Fourth Industrial Revolution: Strategic Analysis. Author: Dr. Mario Ramón Duarte. Publisher: Phillos Academy. (Argentina-Brazil – 2021).
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