Tech Titans Scolded for Ignoring Cybersecurity Philanthropy

The technology entrepreneurs who made their fortunes developing internet apps and social-media platforms are largely absent in the fight against digital threats, suggests an open letter to philanthropy from a group of donors, cybersecurity researchers, and law-enforcement associations.

The letter, whose signers include Craig Newmark Philanthropies, the R Street Institute, the Gula Tech Foundation, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, urges private philanthropists to step up their funding of cybersecurity research and education charities.

The letter doesn’t name names but suggests that tech luminaries are especially called upon to protect against crime on the web.

“The current generation of internet pioneers, which is only now beginning to realize the responsibility that comes with such success, has the knowledge and unique perspective to make a difference on issues impacting cyber policy and the lives of internet users,” the letter states.

The group argues current philanthropic funding for cybersecurity issues is scant. They point to data from the Peace and Security Funding Index showing that less than 1 percent of $3.7 billion in foundation grants for peace and security issues made since 2012 has been for cybersecurity issues. The Peace and Security Funding Index is a project run by Candid, which tracks foundation grants to charities for issues related to conflict resolution, security, and nuclear-weapons policy, among other things.

“We’re almost competing for dollars because there’s only so many dollars in the pot,” said Kristin Judge, CEO of the Cybercrime Support Network, a charity that provides services to individuals and businesses affected by cybercrime.

According to the Peace and Security Funding Index, the share of philanthropic funding for cybersecurity issues has grown in recent years. In 2018, grants amounted to roughly 4 percent, or $15.2 million, of the $376.8 million in funding spread out among broader peace and security categories. Most of that — $10.2 million — came from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. From there, the amounts granted fall off sharply. The second most prolific foundation on cybersecurity that year was the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which granted $1.6 million that year.

The letter asserts that philanthropic funding is needed to help flesh out cybersecurity policies in a manner similar to how philanthropic funding helped develop nuclear-weapons policy analysis. In 2018, 14 percent of grants for peace and security issues, roughly $51 million, were devoted to “nuclear issues,” according to Candid.

In the wake of high-profile cybersecurity problems, such as the SolarWinds hack in 2020 and foreign efforts to interfere in U.S. elections, Newmark framed the issue in the context of U.S. national security and said there is a dire need for more philanthropic support of charities focused on cybersecurity policy and cybersecurity work-force training.

“I just think that this is an all-hands-on-deck thing,” said Newmark. “Right now there is a huge lack of cybersecurity professionals, and we need hundreds of thousands of more people in the U.S. to help defend the country against those who wish to do us harm.”

(The Hewlett Foundation is a financial supporter of the Chronicle.)