Quantum technologies and geopolitics: comparing parliamentary rhetoric

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• Computational Social Science
• Quantum Technology Policy

Background:

• Quantum technologies are a growing global political priority.
• Policymaker perceptions of quantum technology security implications are understudied.
• These perceptions influence policy priorities and public understanding of technological risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze how policymakers across different countries frame the security implications of quantum technologies.
• To identify trends and variations in the securitization of quantum technologies in parliamentary discourse.
• To understand the political dynamics surrounding quantum technology development and deployment.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of parliamentary speeches from 2010-2024 in Australia, the UK, the US, the EU, and Singapore.
• Application of computational social science tools, including large language models.
• Quantification of security emphasis in political discourse using a novel LLM-based method.

Main Results:

• Significant variation in security framing and attention across legislatures (US highest, Australia muted).
• A consistent rise in security emphasis over time in all studied parliaments.
• Securitized debates concentrated on quantum-secure communications, great-power competition (e.g., AUKUS), and technology flow regulation.

Conclusions:

• Quantum technologies are increasingly politicized and securitized in global political discourse.
• National approaches to quantum technology security vary, influenced by geopolitical context and specific technological applications.
• Longitudinal, cross-national data reveal evolving political attention to quantum technologies and their perceived security risks.