Francesca Bosco profile interview

Francesca Bosco is the Chief Strategy Officer at the CyberPeace Institute. We recently asked Francesca a few questions for a profile in our latest Responsible Tech Guide. You can read the full interview below.

“For me, Responsible Tech is about bridging disciplines, connecting actors, and keeping people at the center. It’s about ensuring that innovation does not outpace responsibility—and that no one, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind in a rapidly evolving digital world.”

All Tech Is Human tackles complex technology and society challenges like misinformation, hate speech, and child safety online. What do you think is the most pressing tech and society issue today?

One of the most pressing issues today is the erosion of trust in our digital ecosystem, amplified by the growing sophistication of both AI and cyberthreats. Emerging technologies—particularly generative AI—are accelerating the creation and spread of synthetic content, making it harder to discern what is real and what is manipulation. At the same time, cyberattacks are increasingly targeting under-resourced organizations such as schools, nonprofits, local governments, and community clinics. These institutions often lack the capacity to defend themselves, yet they provide critical services that directly affect people’s daily lives. When they are compromised, the ripple effects undermine not only digital security but also social cohesion and public trust.

Responsible technology must therefore prioritize resilience: strengthening cybersecurity across all layers of society, ensuring equitable protection for the most vulnerable institutions, and embedding transparency and accountability into AI and digital systems. Building resilience is not simply about defending against attacks or misinformation; it is about restoring confidence in the systems that underpin democracy, equity, and human dignity. Without this foundation of trust, every other responsible tech effort risks faltering.

Describe your current role. How does your work address complex technology and society challenges?

As Chief Strategy Officer at the Geneva-based CyberPeace Institute, I drive the organization’s strategic development and shape cross-sector partnerships, including with donors who play a vital role in sustaining long-term resilience efforts. From a strategy perspective, my work ensures that the Institute is positioned to respond effectively to evolving cyberthreats while keeping people—not technology—at the center.

This translates into three core areas. First, protection: equipping under-resourced organizations such as NGOs, clinics, schools, and local governments with tailored support, expert volunteers, and practical playbooks to strengthen their digital resilience. Second, evidence: documenting and analyzing cyberattacks—including those leveraging AI—that disrupt essential services, making visible both systemic gaps and the human impact. Third, accountability: advancing norms, policies, and practices that enable and ensure responsible behavior in cyberspace.

By connecting strategy with partnerships across sectors and aligning donor resources with urgent needs, I work to ensure that mission-driven institutions are not left behind. Tackling ransomware, disinformation, and AI-enabled threats requires collaboration at scale. My role is ultimately about channeling collective energy and resources into practical safeguards that restore trust and resilience in the digital systems societies depend on every day.

Tell us about your career journey. What key steps brought you to your current role, and what guidance would you give someone following a similar path?

My career has been shaped by the conviction that technology and security are deeply human issues. I began with a background in law—focusing on international law and human rights—soon coupled with on-the-job training in cybersecurity, while working at the United Nations and then at the World Economic Forum. There, I witnessed firsthand how digital threats were becoming central to humanitarian and societal challenges, and how essential it is to build meaningful collaborations to achieve real impact. Moving into the field of cybercrime, cybersecurity and emerging technologies allowed me to bridge law, policy, and practice—translating complex risks into strategies that protect people, not just systems.

Each step—whether developing international frameworks, working alongside governments, or building partnerships with civil society—reinforced my belief that solving tech-and-society challenges requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Today, as Chief Strategy Officer at the CyberPeace Institute, I combine that legal-policy foundation and the cybersecurity expertise with strategic development and cross-sector partnerships, ensuring that even the most under-resourced organizations can strengthen their digital resilience.

For those following a similar path, my advice is simple: don’t be afraid to cross boundaries. The most meaningful work in responsible tech happens at the intersections—between law and engineering, between activism and policy, between local impact and global strategy. Stay curious, build coalitions, and always keep people at the center of your work. That is how you turn a career into impact.

What inspired your journey into Responsible Tech, and how has your background shaped the way you approach ethical challenges in technology?

My journey into Responsible Tech was inspired by a fundamental observation: technology shapes not only what we can do, but who we can be as societies. Early in my career, working at the United Nations and the World Economic Forum, I saw how digital systems—when left unchecked—could amplify harm, particularly for vulnerable communities. At the same time, I witnessed how thoughtful collaboration across sectors could turn complex challenges into actionable solutions. That tension between risk and opportunity sparked my commitment to ensuring technology serves people, not the other way around.

My background in international law and human rights, combined with hands-on experience in cybersecurity and emerging technologies, has deeply shaped my approach to ethical challenges. I do not see ethics as a theoretical exercise, but as a practical compass: every decision in technology—whether around AI deployment, data protection, or cybersecurity—has real human consequences. At the CyberPeace Institute, I drafted the organization’s Responsible AI approach, ensuring emerging technologies are deployed safely, transparently, and in ways that protect vulnerable communities. Alongside this, I focus on building digital resilience for under-resourced organizations and advancing cross-sector partnerships that embed accountability into technology systems.

For me, Responsible Tech is about bridging disciplines, connecting actors, and keeping people at the center. It’s about ensuring that innovation does not outpace responsibility—and that no one, especially the most vulnerable, is left behind in a rapidly evolving digital world.

This year's Responsible Tech Guide explores how different fields intersect - like Responsible AI and Trust & Safety. What disciplines or domains intersect in your work?

My work sits at the intersection of law, cybersecurity, human rights, and emerging technologies—fields that rarely converge but are essential to building responsible, resilient digital systems. On one hand, international law and human rights provide the ethical and normative frameworks that guide how technology should operate. On the other, cybersecurity and threat analysis provide the practical tools to protect people and institutions from harm. Layered on top of this is the rapidly evolving world of AI and digital innovation, which creates both opportunity and risk.

Bridging these domains requires collaboration across multiple sectors. I work with governments and public institutions to shape policy, with civil society to understand human impact, with industry to influence practices, and with donors to ensure that resources reach the most vulnerable organizations. At the CyberPeace Institute, this multidisciplinary approach also informs our Responsible AI work, integrating technical safeguards with ethical principles and practical implementation strategies.

Ultimately, the intersections in my work—law and cybersecurity, ethics and AI, policy and operational resilience—reflect a core belief: technology cannot be ethical, safe, or trustworthy in isolation. It requires dialogue across disciplines and sectors, grounded in human-centered principles and a commitment to protect those most at risk.

What are the biggest barriers you’ve encountered in advancing responsible technology within your field, and how have you addressed them? 

One of the greatest barriers in advancing responsible technology is the gap between capacity and need. Many organizations—particularly NGOs, local governments, and community-based institutions—face growing cyber risks but often lack the technical expertise, funding, or infrastructure to respond effectively. This creates a situation where ethical frameworks and safeguards exist in principle but cannot be implemented equitably on the ground.

Another persistent challenge is the siloed nature of the field. Cybersecurity, AI ethics, policy, and human rights frequently operate in separate spaces, making it difficult to coordinate holistic solutions. Conflicting priorities, misaligned incentives, and limited cross-sector dialogue can slow progress, even when the stakes are high.

To address these challenges, I focus on building bridges. At the CyberPeace Institute, I work across sectors—connecting civil society, governments, industry, and donors—to ensure resources and expertise reach those who need them most. We provide practical guidance, tailored playbooks, and capacity-building initiatives that translate ethical principles into actionable strategies. By fostering collaboration and co-creating solutions, we strengthen resilience, embed accountability, and make responsible technology tangible and accessible.

Ultimately, overcoming these barriers requires pragmatism, collaboration, and a human-centered lens: ensuring that technology serves people safely, equitably, and reliably.

What have you found to be the most significant event that impacted Responsible Tech in 2025? 

In 2025, I witnessed several moments that shaped my perspective on Responsible Tech and reaffirmed the importance of collaboration across sectors. The AI Action Summit in Paris was particularly striking: seeing over 60 countries come together to sign the “Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence for People and the Planet” highlighted both the promise and the challenge of aligning innovation with human rights. At the same time, the fact that the United States and the United Kingdom opted not to sign reminded me how geopolitical realities intersect with ethical ambitions, and how essential it is to work across boundaries to build shared frameworks.

A few weeks later, RightsCon in Taipei brought the human dimension of technology into sharp focus. Engaging with activists, human rights defenders, and technologists reminded me that frameworks and policies only matter if they tangibly protect those most vulnerable. Similarly, actively participating in the recent AI for Good discussions in Geneva emphasized how technology can be harnessed to address societal challenges—from climate to health—when governments, industry, and civil society collaborate.

Speaking at the Internet Governance Forum in Norway and the WSIS+20 High-Level Event in Geneva further reinforced that Responsible Tech requires multi-stakeholder approaches, inclusive governance, and a focus on equitable access. These experiences reminded me that advancing Responsible Tech is as much about people and partnerships as it is about technology.

I was actively involved in the second edition of the Global Cyber Capacity Building Conference (GC3B) this year it took place in Geneva. I was proud to have been among the initiators and co-organizers of its first edition in Ghana, which laid the groundwork for cross-regional knowledge sharing and practical skill development. GC3B took place alongside the first edition of the Geneva Cyber Week, where I spoke/actively engaged in several sessions and events with existing and potential new partners, from building unusual cyber talent careers to fostering resilience in the age of AI. Experiences like these continually reinforce that Responsible Tech is as much about empowering people, strengthening capacities, and fostering partnerships as it is about technology itself.

What emerging trends or issues in technology most concern you, and where do you see the greatest opportunities for shaping a more ethical, human-centered future? 

What worries me most is how rapidly AI, especially generative models, is being deployed without adequate consideration for human impact. I’ve seen firsthand how these tools can amplify misinformation, embed bias, and undermine trust in the digital systems that communities rely on every day. At the same time, cyber threats continue to target under-resourced organizations—NGOs, schools, and local institutions—creating real-world harms for those least equipped to defend themselves. These trends make it clear that technological advancement without ethical guardrails is not just a technical issue; it’s a societal one.

Yet, these same trends present enormous opportunities. I’ve witnessed how thoughtful, human-centered approaches—whether in AI, cybersecurity, or emerging digital technologies—can expand access to healthcare, education, and public services, and strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities. The key is collaboration: bringing together governments, civil society, industry, and academia to co-create solutions that are practical, accountable, and inclusive.

For me, Responsible Tech is about more than mitigating harm—it’s about empowering people, building capacity where it is most needed, and ensuring technology serves society, not the other way around.

All Tech Is Human values diverse perspectives to address complex technology and society challenges. What backgrounds or voices do you think are underrepresented in the Responsible Tech space?

One of the biggest gaps in the Responsible Tech space is the underrepresentation of voices from the global majority—communities and regions most affected by technology but often excluded from shaping its rules and frameworks. While policy, academia, and industry are well-represented, practitioners in local NGOs, community organizations, or public services in under-resourced regions rarely have the opportunity to influence ethical standards or governance, even though they are on the frontlines of both innovation and harm. Their insights into practical implementation, cultural context, and real-world challenges are essential for creating responsible, equitable technology.

The gender dimension is also critical: women and gender-diverse individuals, particularly in the global majority, are often underrepresented in leadership and decision-making roles in tech. Their perspectives are vital to ensure solutions do not inadvertently reinforce inequities or overlook the needs of half the population.

Another underrepresented perspective comes from those working at the intersections of disciplines: technologists embedded in local contexts, educators, frontline human rights defenders, and experts in youth well-being or mental health. Their lived experiences highlight the societal and human impact of technology in ways that purely technical or policy-focused approaches cannot.

To advance Responsible Tech, we must actively elevate these voices—centered on lived experience, diverse identities, and cross-disciplinary insight—ensuring that technology serves the people whose lives it shapes.

What does a better tech future look like to you, and how can we get there?

A better tech future is one where technology serves people, not the other way around. It’s a world where innovation is paired with accountability, where emerging tools like AI and digital platforms are designed with human rights, equity, and well-being at the center. In this future, even under-resourced organizations and communities in the global majority have the capacity and knowledge to protect themselves and benefit from technology. Gender, cultural, and intersectional perspectives are embedded in design, governance, and decision-making processes, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Getting there requires deliberate, multi-stakeholder collaboration. Governments, industry, civil society, academia, and affected communities must come together to co-create frameworks that are practical, enforceable, and context-aware. Investments in (cyber) capacity building are crucial, particularly for organizations and regions that are most vulnerable to digital harm. Ethical standards must be paired with technical safeguards, and accountability mechanisms must be accessible and transparent.

An inspiring example is the Common Good Cyber Fund, which supports nonprofits delivering core cybersecurity services to protect civil society actors at high risk. Initiatives like this strengthen digital resilience and promote security-by-design principles—helping build a safer Internet that works for everyone.

Ultimately, I hope that one day organizations like ours become redundant—not because the work we do is unimportant, but because technology and institutions will be inherently designed to be safe, equitable, and human-centered. When communities everywhere have the knowledge, tools, and governance structures to protect themselves, the role of intermediaries becomes less about mitigation and more about advancing opportunity. That is the measure of true success in Responsible Tech.