Controlling Dangerous Pathogens: A Prototype for Protective Oversight System

“In an effort to encourage productive discussion of [dual-use] and its implications, this monograph discusses an oversight process designed to bring independent scrutiny to bear throughout the world without exception on fundamental research activities that might plausibly generate massively destructive or otherwise highly dangerous consequences. The suggestion is that a mandatory, globally implemented process of that sort would provide the most obvious means of protecting against the dangers of advances in biology while pursuing the benefits. The underlying principle of independent scrutiny is the central measure of protection used in other areas of major consequence, such as the handling of money, and it is reasonable to expect that principle will have to be actively applied to biology as well.”
By John Steinbruner, Elisa D. Harris, Nancy Gallagher, Stacy M. Okutani

Author:
The Center for International and Security Studies at Maryland (CSISM)
Publish Date:
2007

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