The Real Cyber War: The Political Economy of Internet Freedom

by Shawn M. Powers, Michael Jablonski

Contemporary discussion surrounding the role of the internet in society is dominated by words internet freedom, surveillance, cybersecurity, Edward Snowden and, most prolifically, cyber war. Behind the rhetoric of cyber war is an on-going state-centered battle for control of information resources. Shawn Powers and Michael Jablonski conceptualize this real cyber war as the utilization of digital networks for geopolitical purposes, including covert attacks against another state's electronic systems, but also, and more importantly, the variety of ways the internet is used to further a state’s economic and military agendas.
 
Moving beyond debates on the democratic value of new and emerging information technologies, The Real Cyber War focuses on political, economic, and geopolitical factors driving internet freedom policies, in particular the U.S. State Department's emerging doctrine in support of a universal freedom to connect. They argue that efforts to create a universal internet built upon Western legal, political, and social preferences is driven by economic and geopolitical motivations rather than the humanitarian and democratic ideals that typically accompany related policy discourse. In fact, the freedom-to-connect movement is intertwined with broader efforts to structure global society in ways that favor American and Western cultures, economies, and governments.
 
Thought-provoking and far-seeing, The Real Cyber War reveals how internet policies and governance have emerged as critical sites of geopolitical contestation, with results certain to shape statecraft, diplomacy, and conflict in the twenty-first century.

Genres: Technology, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2015

Reviews

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fair to suggest that there are two types of “cyber war” affecting our ever-connected society. The first is the most commonly known, whether it is hackers and virus makers, Internet freedoms and identity theft or security issues. The less known form is the actions of nation states, who are seeking to restrict and control access domestically whilst aggressively seeking to ready itself for possible economic and military action by cyber means against future foes. It is the latter that the authors are focussing on in this fairly academic work.

On one hand many governments are advocating Internet freedoms and greater connectedness in other countries, yet what are their real motives? Are democracy and humanitarian considerations being overridden by economic, geopolitical and military considerations? It might be easier to say one thing whilst doing something entirely different…

U.S. foreign policy is considered along with the information-industrial complex and examination is made about the information-gathering powers of companies such as Google and how our freedom, or perception thereof, is actualised in a surveillance society where recording everything and anything is cheap and joining the dots to build a detailed dossier on a subject is an increasingly trivial task. Whether the information is being gathered by a government against a dissident or by a large corporation about a store customer, the depth and breadth of information collation can be amazing. If you don’t believe this (and you belong to the vast majority of people who have not enabled a blocking option) request your search history from Google or your search engine of choice. Each and every line of every search spread over time can reveal a shocking insight into your behaviour. This is just one data point. Government bodies don’t necessary have a check box where you can elect for “no data collection” as well. Naturally the user has to trust the big company if it says that by checking this box, we won’t store any data about you. No doubt lawyers could pore over a privacy policy and keep themselves in work for many years.

Certainly this was an interesting, thought-provoking read although it is not something you would describe as being a lightweight work. It would have been nice if the book could have been a little more accessible for the average, non-academic reader as it covers a serious subject that deserves a wider audience. For the academic, as you would expect, the book features a very comprehensive index and extensive reference sources.

It was an interesting, challenging read that is likely to stand the test of time and become a classic work.

The Real Cyber War: The Political Economy of Internet Freedom, written by Shawn M. Powers & Michael Jablonski and published by University of Illinois Press. ISBN 9780252080708, 288 pages. YYYY.

[Vera · Rating 5 out of 5]

In field of the Internet studies dominated by the analysis of texts, "The Real Cyber War" stands out for its original focus on the geopolitics of online connectivity. Powers and Jablsonki meticulously examine how the US rhetoric of global "freedom to connect" obscures the real issues of institutional and economic power. As they put it, "the real cyber war may not be over offensive capabilities or cybersecurity but instead over legitimizing existing institutions and norms governing internet industries" (p.100). The authors begin by tracing the history of information-industrial complex; next, they debunk the notion that an access to digital media spurs economic growth and show how deregulated communications favors Western companies; the book ends with the discussion of close ties between the state and the market players in a surveillance society.