As quantum security means that any attempt to interfere with transmissions is immediately detected, this technology “establishes new standards of quality, transparency and credibility in the digital age”
The Austrian public broadcaster, , held its first quantum cryptography-protected broadcast from Parliament on Monday, a pioneering project to protect against potential cyberattacks and distortions generated by artificial intelligence (AI).
“This broadcast marks a turning point in the handling of sensitive information in democracy, the media and the economy”, highlighted the speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Karl-Heinz Grundböck.
This is a pilot project to test quantum cryptography in real conditions and position Parliament as a “reliable source of information” against future threats, such as the use of AI to manipulate live signals or carry out advanced cyberattacks.
The television signal was transmitted today from the Parliament building to the ORF studios in Vienna, guaranteeing a completely secure live broadcast, according to statements released by the station and the Parliament.
“In times of increasing cyberthreats and targeted disinformation, this technology constitutes an additional protective shield for the credibility of democratic systems,” emphasized Grundböck.
As quantum security means that any attempt to interfere with transmissions is detected immediately, this technology “establishes new standards of quality, transparency and credibility in the digital age”, noted, in turn, Harald Kräuter, technical director of the public station.
Unlike traditional encryption that uses mathematical algorithms, this technology generates pairs of photons using a special light source, which are then sent via a separate fiber optic connection to both Parliament and the ORF (the French public broadcaster).
These particles are measured at both ends, and if their states match, a shared secret key is assigned.
Any attempt to intercept the transmission inevitably changes the state of the photons and is detected instantly, thus interrupting the generation of the key.
The project involves Big Blue Marble, a company specializing in broadcasting, and zerothird, dedicated to quantum cryptography.
