The Future of Biosecurity: Can Regulations Keep Pace with Emerging Technologies?

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_3How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Biosecurity; Synthetic Biology; Dual-Use Research; Legal Regulation; Emerging Technologies

Abstract

The swift advancement of synthetic biology, gene editing, and biotechnology presents unparalleled challenges to global biosecurity. As dual-use research and powerful biotechnological tools become more accessible beyond traditional scientific institutions, the risk of unintentional release or intentional misuse of biological agents grows significantly, often outpacing the capabilities of existing regulatory systems. This essay critically evaluates the adequacy of current national and international biosecurity policies in responding to these rapidly evolving threats. Employing doctrinal legal research and qualitative methods, such as interviewing relevant agencies, we analyse a range of statutes, international treaties, and policy frameworks to assess the coherence, sufficiency, and adaptability of current regulatory instruments. The paper identifies key regulatory blind spots and enforcement limitations and examines the socio-economic dynamics that contribute to policy inertia. Additionally, we explore recent technological developments that underscore the urgency of reform. Ultimately, the study argues for an adaptive, anticipatory governance model incorporating real-time risk assessment, global stakeholder collaboration, and flexible legal mechanisms. Our findings highlight the critical need for proactive, internationally coordinated regulatory responses to safeguard against emerging biosecurity threats in a technologically democratized world.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Noor Dzuhaidah Osman
AU  - Syahirah Abdul Shukor
AU  - Mohamad Afiq Padeli
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/07
TI  - The Future of Biosecurity: Can Regulations Keep Pace with Emerging Technologies?
BT  - Proceedings of the UUM 13th International Legal Conference 2025 (UUMILC 2025)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 20
EP  - 38
SN  - 2667-128X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_3
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-785-9_3
ID  - Osman2026
ER  -