Divergent technologies are increasingly being used by countries in the West and those within the rapidly expanding BRICS group of nation-states. This results in bifurcation of policies and laws and hence legal advice.
GPS hacking is a thing
Until today and reading the Hexagon AB article below(*), I was unaware of cyberhacking of GPS (Global Positioning System), as has taken place to interfere with GPS use in Lebanon. As Qestern alliance countries(**) and BRICS countries increasingly go separate ways expect divergence in many areas and ways.
Divergence in systems, codes, standards and more
Expect divergence in computer chips, electronic devices, GPS-like navigation systems, and various other digital technologies. Expect also divergence in banking systems (eg SWIFT codes), currencies, and dominant languages to be known and used. Perhaps further ahead on the horizon expect divergence in the regulations of governing international organisations, standards-setting bodies, and maybe even a United Nations replacement. All this is a pattern evident in other periods in the history of human civilisation.
Lawyers who think ahead
Divergence in some legal matters dealt with by lawyers will require them to bifurcate their advice, one part for Western nation-states, the other part for BRICS countries. Already BRICS countries amount to a greater proportion of global GDP than Western states. There are opportunities available when thinking differently and early about the directions of change.
Among many questions, there will increasingly be questions arising about in which jurisdiction to set up business, adopting which laws, and thus regulated or restricted by which organisations, laws and nation-states.
A final note given the importance in our practice of proper labelling of publications. As is so often the case the Hexagon article has no date of publication, which is inexcusable when it is a page from a multinational company Hexagon AB based in Sweden with 24,000 employees. Between 2000 and 2022 Hexagon has completed 170 acquisitions, including the Canadian coms company Novatel in 2007.
(*) Hexagon AB – What are global satellite navigation systems?
(**) The concept of “Western alliance” used here is inclusive of NATO, AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom, United States), ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, United States Security Treaty), Five Eyes (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States intelligence services) and the European Union.
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