Technological breakthroughs with the power to reshape almost every industrial sector, governance system and operational structure are heralding a fourth industrial revolution and are already bringing tremendous economic and societal benefits to much of the global population.

At its best technology and the web creates a bridge between nations and provides greater access to information and education. At its worst it is a hiding place for cyber criminals and a surveillance tool used to violate civil liberties. Media monopolies and variance in liability laws can also result in the spread of politically charged and ideologically one-sided views.

Cyber space is ultimately another global market that has the potential to fragment if governments fail to agree a global approach, which will impede the development of new technologies and could lead to deeper geopolitical and societal divides.