Quantum technologies and geopolitics: comparing parliamentary rhetoric

Quantum technologies are rapidly emerging as a strategic priority for global political powers. Yet little is known about how policymakers across countries perceive the security implications of quantum technologies, even though such perceptions shape policy priorities and public understanding of technological threats. Drawing on securitization theory, we analyze parliamentary speeches from 2010 to 2024 across Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, the European Union, and Singapore. Using computational social science tools, including a novel method based on large language models to quantify security emphasis, we report on three principal findings. First, attention and security framing vary markedly across legislatures, with the United States showing the highest intensity, the United Kingdom a moderate pattern, and Australia comparatively muted security rhetoric despite frequent discussion. Second, security emphasis rises over time in every parliament studied. Third, highly securitized debates cluster around the topics of transitions to quantum-secure communication infrastructures, great-power competition and alliances (including AUKUS), and the regulation of cross-border capital, knowledge, and technology flows. The study contributes cross-national, longitudinal evidence on how quantum technologies are politicized.