Trying To Stop An International "Arms Race" In Cyberspace

In Shift, U.S. Talks To Russia On Internet Security -- New York Times

The United States has begun talks with Russia and a United Nations arms control committee about strengthening Internet security and limiting military use of cyberspace.

American and Russian officials have different interpretations of the talks so far, but the mere fact that the United States is participating represents a significant policy shift after years of rejecting Russia’s overtures. Officials familiar with the talks said the Obama administration realized that more nations were developing cyberweapons and that a new approach was needed to blunt an international arms race.

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My Comment: This is a major policy shift for the U.S. The key paragraph in this report is the following:

The mere fact that the United States is participating represents a significant policy shift after years of rejecting Russia’s overtures. Officials familiar with the talks said the Obama administration realized that more nations were developing cyberweapons and that a new approach was needed to blunt an international arms race.

The problem is that I do not see how it is possible to regulate and blunt the development of software that may (or may not) contravene any future agreements .... let alone establishing a monitoring agency that will have the resources to verify compliance for any future agreement.