Social Science Research Council

Ronald J. Deibert, project director

The notion that we need to better understand how groups use IT is central to Ron Deibert's project. Deibert draws our attention to the many activist groups whose civil society networks help constitute global arenas around issues such as globalization, arms control, and human rights. These groups have their own security considerations and social purposes, especially bearing on the communication and information that is the currency of their activities. Information security thus becomes critical to their capacity to carry out their work. While it seems intuitive to assume that such groups would operate with as much openness as possible (transparency as the norm in civil society), Deibert proposes that some such groups may thrive by securing their data and communications in networks closed against access from states and other powerful actors.

The association of closed networks and civil society groups is in fact not as counter-intuitive as one might think. History instructs that public spheres require powerful boundaries in order to thrive (to keep out intruding states and corporations) and that groups need such boundaries in order to secure their place within those spheres. In principle, virtual public spheres, both national and global, should be no different.