In this episode, I spoke to Karen Nershi, an Assistant Professor of Political Science at IE University and a former Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford University's Stanford Internet Observatory and the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC).

Karen's research examines questions of international cooperation and regulation within international political economy, including challenges emerging from the adoption of decentralized digital currency and other new technologies.

Karen recently published a research paper titled "Assessing the Political Motivations Behind Ransomware Attacks". Her research led her to the conclusion that "the Russian government maintains an informal cooperative relationship with (ransomware) groups by providing safe harbor from prosecution and receiving plausible deniability for attacks and access to skilled cyber actors".

We spoke about Russia's weaponising of private ransomware groups against Europe and the United States, the sanctions imposed on those groups, general regulation of the cybercrime space, and the role of cryptocurrency and anti-money laundering regulation.

You can also find our recent publication on the subject here: https://www.globalriskaffairs.com/2024/01/when-ransomeware-strikes-navigating-risks-and-regulatory-responses/