The Securitization of Internet Governance: From Transnational Epistemic Authority to Intergovernmental Political Authority?

The paper analyzes the evolution of global internet governance as a conflict between two spheres of authority characterized by different basic principles – a transnational sphere based on epistemic authority and largely unregulated in terms of content, and an intergovernmental sphere based on political authority and controlled by states. While internet governance emerged as a transnational sphere of authority loosely supervised by Western states and with a strong influence of private firms and civil society, we argue that a number of states strive for the creation of an alternative sphere of authority dominated by intergovernmental organizations and the interests of states to stabilize domestic rule. While the outcome of this conflict is still uncertain, its driver is securitization and the increased importance of internet governance for states. And while the main drivers behind the intergovernmental sphere are authoritarian states, security concerns are becoming increasingly relevant for Western states.