h th r nt rn t

v n

ntr l

r z v

rn l f D

,V l

22, N

P bl h d b J hn H p n
D : 0.
j d.20 .0022

F r dd t n l nf r
http :

.jh . d

b r 2, pr l 20 , pp. 62 4 ( rt l

n v r t Pr

t n b

t th

rt l

rt l 42 6

Access provided by The University of Guelph (12 Sep 2016 18:22 GMT)

,IBERATION4ECHNOLOGY

7()4(%2).4%2.%4#/.42/,
%VGENY-OROZOV

%VGENY-OROZOVISA"ERNARD,3CHWARTZ3ENIOR&ELLOWATTHE.EW
!MERICA &OUNDATION AND A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR OF &OREIGN 0OLICY
WHERE HE RUNS THE .ET %FFECT BLOG HTTPNETEFFECTFOREIGNPOLICY
COM (EISTHEAUTHOROF4HE.ET$ELUSION4HE$ARK3IDEOF)NTERNET
&REEDOM 

EADINGLIBERALDEMOCRACIESSUCHASTHE5NITED3TATESHAVEBEGUNPRO
MOTING )NTERNET FREEDOM AND BY EXTENSION OPPOSING )NTERNET CON
TROL"UTWHATEXACTLYISTHISCONTROLANDHOWBESTMAYITBECOMBATED
!SACATEGORYITISBROADENCOMPASSINGBOTHCENSORSHIPWHICHVIOLATES
THERIGHTTOFREEEXPRESSION ANDSURVEILLANCEWHICHVIOLATESTHERIGHTTO
PRIVACY 4HISDUALCHARACTEROFCONTROLEXPLAINSWHYITISOFTENSOHARD
TO ASSESS INNOVATIONS SUCH AS SOCIAL NETWORKING IN THE ABSTRACT 4HEY
WORKINFAVOROFFREEDOMOFEXPRESSIONBYMAKINGITEASIERFORUSTOEX
PRESSOURSELVESBUTATTHESAMETIMETHEYALSOTENDTOWORKINFAVOROF
SURVEILLANCEBYMAKINGMOREOFOURPRIVATEINFORMATIONPUBLIC
)N ADDITION TO ITS ABILITY TO MANIFEST ITSELF AS BOTH CENSORSHIP AND
SURVEILLANCE)NTERNETCONTROLHASATECHNOLOGICALDIMENSIONANDASO
CIOPOLITICAL DIMENSION THAT OFTEN OVERLAP IN PRACTICE EVEN THOUGH THEY
AREANALYTICALLYDISTINCTFROMEACHOTHER!GOODEXAMPLEOFTHETECH
NOLOGICAL CONTROL WOULD BE A NATIONAL LEVEL SCHEME IN WHICH GOVERN
MENT SANCTIONED)NTERNETFILTERSAUTOMATICALLYBANNEDACCESSTOALLSITES
WHOSE52,SCONTAINEDCERTAINSENSITIVEKEYWORDS!GOODEXAMPLEOF
SOCIOPOLITICAL CONTROL WOULD BE A LAW THAT TREATED BLOGGING PLATFORMS
SUCHAS7ORD0RESSOR,IVE*OURNALASMASS MEDIAORGANSANDMADETHEM
SCREENALLUSER SUBMITTEDONLINECONTENTPRIORTOPUBLICATION)NTHEFOR
MERCASEAGOVERNMENTWOULDBEUSINGTECHNOLOGYTOCHILLTHEFREEDOM
OFEXPRESSIONDIRECTLYINTHELATTERCASETHESOUGHT AFTEREFFECTWOULDBE
THESAMEBUTWOULDBEINDIRECTANDMEDIATEDTHROUGHTHEPOWEROFLAW
RATHERTHANSOUGHTTHROUGHTHEDIRECTAPPLICATIONOFTECHNOLOGYALONE
-OSTTALKOFLIBERATIONTECHNOLOGIESASWAYSOFWEAKENING)NTER
*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY6OLUME.UMBER!PRIL
r.ATIONAL%NDOWMENTFOR$EMOCRACYAND4HE*OHNS(OPKINS5NIVERSITY0RESS

%VGENY-OROZOV



NETCONTROLTURNSOUTTOBEABOUTTHETECHNOLOGICALRATHERTHANTHESOCIO
POLITICALDIMENSION"UTWHATIFSUCCESSINTHATAREAISMETWITHLARGER
ANDMORESOPHISTICATEDEFFORTSATEXERTINGSOCIOPOLITICALCONTROL3CHOL
ARS STILL KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE DYNAMICS AND
THEDISTRIBUTIONOFTHETWOKINDSOFCONTROL!STECHNOLOGICALMETHODS
LOSE EFFICACY SOCIOPOLITICAL METHODS COULD SIMPLY OVERTAKE THEM !N
AUTHORITARIANGOVERNMENTMIGHTFINDITHARDERTOCENSORBLOGSBUTSTILL
RATHER EASY TO JAIL BLOGGERS )NDEED IF CENSORSHIP BECOMES INFEASIBLE
IMPRISONMENTMAYBECOMEINEVITABLE
4HUSIFTHETECHNOLOGICALDIMENSIONOF)NTERNETCONTROLWEREONEDAY
TOBETOTALLYELIMINATEDTHEUPSHOTCOULDBEASETOFSOCIALANDPOLITICAL
BARRIERSTOFREEDOMOFEXPRESSIONTHATMIGHTONBALANCEBEWORSENOT
LEASTBECAUSELIBERATIONTECHNOLOGIESWOULDBEPOWERLESSTOOVERCOME
THEM)TWOULDBEACRUELLYPARADOXICALOUTCOMEINDEEDSHOULDLIBERA
TIONTECHNOLOGYSVERYSUCCESSSPURTHECREATIONOFASOCIOPOLITICALENVI
RONMENTINWHICHTHEREWOULDBENOTHINGFORTECHNOLOGYTOLIBERATE
"UTSUPPOSETHATWECOULDSETSUCHCONCERNSASIDE7HATARETHEWAYS
TO MINIMIZE THE TECHNOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF )NTERNET CENSORSHIP /N
FIRSTSIGHTTHISLOOKSLIKEAMEREENGINEERINGCHALLENGE)TMAYEVENBE
TEMPTINGTOREFRAMETHISQUESTIONASFOLLOWS'IVENWHATWEKNOWABOUT
HOWTHE)NTERNETWORKSWHATCANWEDOTOHELPBYPASSSUCHTECHNOLOGI
CALRESTRICTIONSASAUTHORITARIANGOVERNMENTSMIGHTPUTINPLACE
4HE PROLIFERATION OF NUMEROUS CENSORSHIP CIRCUMVENTION TECHNOLO
GIESOVERTHELASTDECADESUGGESTSTHATEVENTHEMOSTSOPHISTICATED)NTER
NET FILTERINGSCHEMESARENOTIMMUNETOTHEINGENUITYOFTHEENGINEERING
COMMUNITY 4HE POROUSNESS AND DECENTRALIZATION THAT ARE BASIC TO THE
)NTERNETSDESIGNMAKEITHARDTOCOMEUPWITHAFIREWALLTHATWORKS
PERCENTOFTHETIME5NLESSTHEYAREFORCEDTODEALWITHANATIONAL)NTRA
NETFEATURINGAFIXEDNUMBEROFGOVERNMENT RUNWEBSITESTHOSEWITHTHE
REQUISITEKNOW HOWWILLALWAYSBEABLETOCIRCUMVENTGOVERNMENTBANS
BYCONNECTINGTOTHIRD PARTYCOMPUTERSABROADANDUSINGTHEMTOBROWSE
THEUNCENSORED)NTERNET
)TMIGHTSEEMTHENTHATTHEONLYOUTSTANDINGPROBLEMSARETECHNOLOG
ICALINNATUREMAKINGSURETHATTOOLSDELIVERONTHEIRPROMISESINCLUD
INGPROMISESTOKEEPTHEIRUSERSSAFELYUNDETECTEDANDANONYMOUSAND
THATTHEYREMAINCHEAPANDEASYTOUSE)TMIGHTALSOSEEMTHATMONEY
ANDENGINEERINGTALENTWOULDBEALLTHATISNEEDEDTOSOLVESUCHPROB
LEMS&OREXAMPLE3HIYU:HOUTHEFOUNDEROFA&ALUN'ONGTECHNOLOGY
GROUPTHATDESIGNSANDDISTRIBUTESSOFTWAREFORACCESSINGSITESBANNEDBY
THE#HINESEGOVERNMENTSAYSTHATTHEENTIREBATTLEOVERTHE)NTERNETHAS
BOILEDDOWNTOABATTLEOVERRESOURCES
4HIS IS A MISLEADING VIEW 4HE SOCIOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENT WILL AL
WAYS AFFECT THE SCOPE AND INTENSITY OF TECHNOLOGY BASED EFFORTS TO GET
AROUND )NTERNET CONTROLS 3OME OF THE CONSTRAINTS ON THE USE AND PRO
LIFERATION OF SUCH TOOLS ARE ANYTHING BUT TECHNOLOGICAL IN ORIGIN AND



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

ARENOTTRACEABLETORESOURCESCARCITY!TOOLTHATCANHELPDISSIDENTSIN
AUTHORITARIAN STATES TO ACCESS WEBSITES THAT AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS
HAVE BANNED MAY ALSO ALLOW TERRORISTS OR PEDOPHILES TO ACCESS ONLINE
RESOURCESTHATDEMOCRATICGOVERNMENTSHAVEPLACEDOFF LIMITSINKEEP
INGWITHTHEIROWNLAWSANDSYSTEMSOFDUEPROCESS3IMILARLYANYTOOL
THATALLOWSDISSIDENTSTOHIDETHEIRDIGITALDOINGSFROMTHEPRYINGEYESOF
ANUNFREEREGIMESSECRETPOLICEMAYALSOBEUSEDBYCRIMINALSTOEVADE
THELEGALMONITORINGEFFORTSOFLEGITIMATELAW ENFORCEMENTAGENCIESIN
LIBERAL DEMOCRATICSTATES4ECHNOLOGYANDENGINEERINGINOTHERWORDS
DONOTOPERATEINAVACUUM4HESOCIALANDPOLITICALENVIRONMENTWILL
INEVITABLYHAVEMUCHTODOWITHDETERMININGHOWWHEREHOWQUICKLY
ANDWIDELYANDTOWHATENDSTHEYAREBROUGHTTOBEARASWELLASWHAT
THEPUBLICTHINKSABOUTTHEMANDTHEIRUSES
#ONSIDERING THAT MANY SUCH TOOLS ARE DEVELOPED BY ACTIVISTS OFTEN
WORKINGASVOLUNTEERS WHOHAVEASTAKEINMANYDIFFERENTPROJECTSNOT
ALLOFTHEMVIEWEDALTOGETHERFAVORABLYBYGOVERNMENTSORPUBLICSITIS
UNSURPRISINGTHATTHEGOINGCANBETOUGH7HENWECONSIDERTHATATLEAST
ONEOFTHEKEYPEOPLEDOINGWORKON4ORAMUCH CELEBRATEDSYSTEMOF
SERVERSANDSOFTWARETHATISDESIGNEDTOENSUREUSERSONLINEANONYMITY
AND THAT ENJOYS 53 GOVERNMENT FUNDINGHAS ALSO COLLABORATED WITH
7IKI,EAKSWEARENOTSHOCKEDTOLEARNTHATTHE53GOVERNMENTMAY
BEHAVINGSOMESECONDTHOUGHTSABOUTTHISPARTICULARSURVEILLANCE EVAD
INGTOOL!LTHOUGHTHISHASNOTSOFARHADATANGIBLEIMPACTONTHELEVEL
OF SUPPORT THAT THE 53 GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVING TO 4OR THAT MAY
CHANGEINTHEFUTUREESPECIALLYASCOMPETINGPROJECTSACQUIREPOWERFUL
BACKERSANDLOBBYISTSEAGERTODEFENDTHEIRCAUSEIN7ASHINGTON
!T A MINIMUM ANY POLICY INITIATIVE THAT AIMS TO ADDRESS THE TECH
NOLOGICALDIMENSIONOF)NTERNETCONTROLNEEDSTOFINDAWAYTOMODEL
THESOCIOPOLITICALENVIRONMENTINCLUDINGTHETRICKYHUMANELEMENT
INWHICHSUCHTOOLSAREDESIGNEDANDDISTRIBUTED!TTHISPOINTITISHARD
TO PREDICT HOW 7ESTERN GOVERNMENTS WILL REACT IF 4OR SOLVES ITS FUNC
TIONALITYPROBLEMSANDSUDDENLYBECOMESMOREUSER FRIENDLYANDFASTER
.OR DO WE KNOW HOW UPCOMING LEGISLATION AIMED AT FORCING )NTERNET
COMPANIESTOCREATEBACKDOORSTHROUGHWHICH53LAW ENFORCEMENT
AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES CAN SECRETLY ACCESS ONLINE SERVICES SUCH AS
3KYPEAND'MAILMAYIMPEDETHEWIDERDEPLOYMENTOFATOOLSUCHAS
4ORWHICHWOULDPROBABLYHELPTOKEEPTHESEBACKDOORSCLOSED4HIS
ISNOTONLYOREVENMAINLYABATTLEFORRESOURCESTHEREAREMANYUN
RESOLVEDPOLITICALISSUESINVOLVEDHERE4HE533TATE$EPARTMENTAS
(ILLARY#LINTONANNOUNCEDINAWIDELYPUBLICIZED*ANUARYSPEECH
MAYBACKAN)NTERNET FREEDOMAGENDABUTCANTHESAMEBESAIDFORALL
ARMSOFTHE53GOVERNMENT
/NEPOSSIBLESOLUTIONWOULDBETODESIGNSPECIALIZEDTOOLSTHATWOULD
TACKLE )NTERNET CENSORSHIP ONLY IN PARTICULAR COUNTRIES SUCH AS #HINA
)RANOR+AZAKHSTAN3UCHTOOLSWOULDNOTABETTHETERRORISTSANDCRIMI

%VGENY-OROZOV



NALSTHATWORRY53AUTHORITIESUNLESSOFCOURSETHEBADACTORSMAN

AGEDTOSETUPSHOPINONEORMOREOFTHOSECOUNTRIES!NOTHERDISAD
VANTAGEISTHATANYTOOLWITHAPARTICULARGEOGRAPHICFOCUSWILLENDUP
BECOMINGFARMOREPOLITICIZEDTHANWOULDANYGENERICSOLUTIONSUCHAS
4OR
4HEFOCUSONABETTINGCENSORSHIPCIRCUMVENTIONINAPARTICULARCOUN
TRYMAYONLYRESULTINTHEGOVERNMENTAIMINGSHARPERSCRUTINYATSUCH
TOOLSANDTHOSEWHOWIELDTHEM!CASEINPOINTIS(AYSTACKANANTICEN
SORSHIPTOOLTHAT53HACKTIVISTSDEVISEDFOR)RANIANDISSIDENTSTOUSE
INTHEWAKEOFTHEIRCOUNTRYS'REEN7AVEPOSTELECTIONPROTESTS
3INCE (AYSTACKS USERS WERE PRESUMED TO BE DISSIDENTS DOWNLOADING
(UMAN2IGHTS7ATCHREPORTSRATHERTHANILLEGALONLINEPORNOGRAPHYA
COMMONUSEOFGENERAL PURPOSETOOLSSUCHAS4OR THE)RANIANGOVERN
MENTHADAPARTICULARLYSTRONGINCENTIVETOMONITORTHEM(AYSTACKSHUT
DOWNIN3EPTEMBERAFTERPROVINGTOBELESSRELIABLETHANITSINVEN
TORSHADCLAIMED
4HE FURTHER SEGMENTATION OF THIS MARKET WITH THE APPEARANCE OF
TOOLSSPECIFICTO&IJIAND4AJIKISTANFORINSTANCEWOULDALSOMAKEIT
HARDTOVOUCHFORTHESECURITYOFEACHTOOL)DEALLYANYEFFORTTOCREATE
A NEW COUNTRY SPECIFIC TOOL WOULD CONFORM TO APPROPRIATE STANDARDS
AND PROCEDURES SO THAT ITS TECHNICAL MERITS COULD BE INDEPENDENTLY
ASSESSEDBYTHIRDPARTIESANDSUBJECTEDTOPEERREVIEW4HE(AYSTACK
DEBACLESUGGESTSTHEPITFALLSTHATLIEINWAITIFSUCHRIGOROUSPROTOCOLS
AREIGNORED

The Sociopolitical Dimension

)NTERNET FILTERING IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO GOV
ERNMENTS )T IS ALSO THE ONE THAT IS EASIEST TO DOCUMENT -OREOVER IT
LENDS ITSELF NICELY TO STRAIGHTFORWARD ASSESSMENTS BY &REEDOM (OUSE
THE/PEN.ET)NITIATIVEAND(ERDICT7EBA(ARVARD BASEDINITIATIVETHAT
SEEKS INPUT FROM )NTERNET USERS WORLDWIDE IN ORDER TO CROWDSOURCE
REAL TIMEDATAREGARDING)NTERNETCONTROL"ECAUSEOFTHISRELATIVETRANS
PARENCY AND BECAUSE BEING KNOWN FOR 7EB FILTERING LOOKS BAD FEW
COUNTRIESWANTTOBESPOKENOFINTHESAMESENTENCEWITHPHRASESSUCH
ASTHE'REAT&IREWALLOF#HINA GOVERNMENTSARENOWEXPERIMENTING
WITHMORESOPHISTICATEDWAYSOFEXERTINGCONTROLTHATAREHARDERTODE
TECTANDDOCUMENT4HESEINCLUDE
$ISTRIBUTEDDENIAL OF SERVICEATTACKS!LTHOUGHRELIABLESTATISTICALDATA
ISSCARCEANECDOTALEVIDENCESUGGESTSTHATPOLITICALLYMOTIVATEDDISTRIB
UTEDDENIAL OF SERVICE$$O3 ATTACKSAREONTHERISE4HESETARGETINDI
VIDUALSORENTIREORGANIZATIONSBYFLOODINGTHEIRWEBSITESWITHCRIPPLING
VOLUMES OF ARTIFICIALLY GENERATED )NTERNET TRAFFIC 4HIS EFFECTIVELY SHUTS
DOWNTHETARGETEDSITEFORATIMEANDDENIESACCESSTOLEGITIMATEUSERS



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

4HEPUBLISHERSOFASITETHATCOMESUNDER$$O3ATTACKMUSTNOTONLY
SCRAMBLE FOR WAYS TO KEEP CONTENT AVAILABLE ESPECIALLY IF THE ASSAULT
COMES AT A SENSITIVE MOMENT SUCH AS DURING A PERIOD OF POSTELECTION
PROTESTS  BUT MUST ALSO COPE WITH THE ANGER OF THE )NTERNET HOSTING
COMPANIESTHATAREOFTENTHEONESLEFTDEALINGWITHTHECONSEQUENCESOF
SUCHATTACKS2EPEATED$$O3ATTACKSONASITEMAYEVENTUALLYMAKEIT
UNHOSTABLENO HOSTING COMPANY WILL TOUCH IT FOR FEAR OF THE COSTLY
CYBER ASSAULTSTHATITWILLDRAW
&OR CONTENT PRODUCERS $$O3 ATTACKS COULD HAVE FAR WORSE CONSE
QUENCESTHANWOULDATTEMPTSTOFILTERTHEIRWEBSITESINAGIVENJURISDIC
TION &IRST A SUCCESSFUL $$O3 ATTACK MAKES CONTENT UNAVAILABLE ANY
WHEREANDEVERYWHERENOTJUSTINTHISORTHATPLACEWITHA7EB FILTERING
SYSTEMINPLACE3ECOND$$O3ASSAULTSPUTHEAVYPSYCHOLOGICALPRES
SURE ON CONTENT PRODUCERS SUDDENLY FORCING THEM TO WORRY ABOUT ALL
SORTSOFINSTITUTIONALISSUESSUCHASTHEFUTUREOFTHEIRRELATIONSHIPWITH
THEIR)NTERNET HOSTINGCOMPANYTHEDEBILITATINGEFFECTTHATTHEUNAVAIL
ABILITYOFTHESITEMAYHAVEONITSONLINECOMMUNITYANDTHELIKE
&ROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THOSE ORDERING THE ATTACKSIT IS A FAIR AS
SUMPTION THAT IN SOME CASES THIS MEANS AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS
$$O3ASSAULTSBEATCENSORSHIPBYVIRTUEOFBEINGFARHARDERTOTRACETO
THEIRSOURCE)NDEEDITCANSOMETIMESBEHARDTOSAYIFA$$O3ATTACK
HASTAKENPLACEATALL7EBSITESGODOWNALLTHETIMEFORAVARIETYOFREA
SONSLEGITIMATESPIKESINTRAFFICSERVERFAILURESPOWEROUTAGESANDNU
MEROUSOTHERCAUSESTHATHAVENOTHINGTODOWITHCYBER ATTACKS!MONG
OTHERTHINGSTHISMEANSTHATTHEREARESTILLNORELIABLEWAYSTOGAUGETHE
FREQUENCYANDINTENSITYOF$$O3ATTACKS4HEYMIGHTBEAWORSETHREAT
TOGLOBALFREEDOMOFEXPRESSIONTHANWECURRENTLYREALIZE
5NFORTUNATELYTHINGSWILLPROBABLYGETWORSEASTHEREHASALREADY
EMERGEDABLACKMARKETIN$$O3ATTACKSYOUCANGOTOE"AYTORENT
THEABILITYTOLAUNCHONE 4HISSEEMSTOBEHAPPENINGMAINLYBECAUSE
$$O3ATTACKSCANALSOBEUSEDTOTARGETBUSINESSESFORTHEPURPOSESOF
CYBER EXTORTION9ETARECENTSURVEYBYTHECOMPUTER SECURITYFIRM3Y
MANTECINDICATESTHATPERCENTOFCRITICAL INFRASTRUCTUREPROVIDERSRE
PORTEXPERIENCINGWHATTHEYPERCEIVEASPOLITICALLYMOTIVATEDCYBER AT
TACKSAGAINSTTHEIRNETWORKS4HOSEWHOREPORTEDHAVINGBEENATTACKED
FURTHER REPORTED AN AVERAGE OF TEN INCIDENTS OVER THE PRECEDING FIVE
YEARSWITHANAVERAGETOTALCOSTACROSSALLFIVEYEARSOF53
$ELIBERATE EROSION OF ONLINE COMMUNITIES SOCIAL CAPITAL !MONG
THETHINGSABOUTTHE)NTERNETTHATMAKEAUTHORITARIANRULERSUNEASYAREITS
POWERSTOBOOSTCIVICASSOCIATIONSOFALLKINDSANDTOCONNECTPREVIOUSLY
UNCONNECTEDPEOPLEANDORGANIZATIONSWITHONEANOTHER'OVERNMENTS
FEARFULOF)NTERNET ENABLEDCONNECTIVITYHAVELEARNEDTHATCENSORSHIP
IS TOO BLUNT AN INSTRUMENT TO BE THEIR BEST WEAPON AGAINST COMMUNI
TIESTHATBEGINONLINEANDREMAINOUTSIDETHESTATESCONTROL#ENSORSHIP

%VGENY-OROZOV



CAN BE TOO EASILY CIRCUMVENTED AND IT CAN BACKFIRE IF THE PRESENCE OF
A THREAT FROM THE STATE ENDS UP STRENGTHENING RATHER THAN WEAKENING A
TARGETCOMMUNITYSINTERNALBONDS4HEREARENUMEROUSWAYSTOWEAKEN
COMMUNITYTIESMOREEFFECTIVELY
/NEOPTIONMAYBETHELAUNCHINGOF$$O3ATTACKSASAMEANSOFSHUT
TINGSITESDOWNPERIODICALLYANDWORSEFORCINGTHEMTOFINDAWAYTOPAY
FOR BETTER HOSTING SERVICES %VEN SIMPLER METHODS MAY INCLUDE TROLLING
OR DISPATCHING NEW MEMBERS TO CREATE ARTIFICIAL SPLITS WITHIN THE COM
MUNITYASWELLASINTENTIONALLYPROVOKINGCOMMUNITYADMINISTRATORSTO
TAKEHARSHANDUNPOPULARMEASURES4HESELASTTWOSTRATAGEMSARELABOR
INTENSIVEANDCOSTLYWAYSTOHAMSTRINGANDMANIPULATEONLINECOMMUNI
TIESBUTTHEYAREMORELIKELYTOPROVEEFFECTIVETHANCENSORSHIP
4HE #HINESE GOVERNMENT HAS BECOME NOTORIOUS FOR ITS FIFTY
CENTERSPEOPLEWHOAREPAIDPIECERATESTOPOSTPROGOVERNMENTCOM
MENTS ON MESSAGE BOARDS AND OTHER WIDELY READ ONLINE FORUMS 4HEIR
WORK IS PLAINLY MEANT TO INFLUENCE THE INTELLECTUAL DYNAMICS OF ONLINE
COMMUNITIESANDSOWDOUBTSWITHINTHEIRRANKS6LADIMIR0UTINS2US
SIA LIKEWISE HAS PLENTY OF +REMLIN FRIENDLY YOUTH MOVEMENTS WHOSE
MEMBERSWILLDEFENDTHEGOVERNMENTANDITSPOLICIESONLINEINCLUDING
ONTHEWEBSITESOFCRITICS
4HE NATIONALIZATION OF CYBERSPACE )N THE MONTHS SINCE (ILLARY
#LINTONSSPEECHON)NTERNETFREEDOMMANYGOVERNMENTSSEEMTOHAVE
WOKENUPTOTHEPOSSIBILITYTHATTHE5NITED3TATESMIGHTBEKEENTOEX
PLOITITSEXISTINGDOMINANCEOFCYBERSPACEINORDERTOPROMOTEACERTAIN
POLITICAL AGENDA 7HETHER OR NOT THEIR CONCERNS ARE JUSTIFIED THE GOV
ERNMENTS OF #HINA )RAN 2USSIA AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SUD
DENLYREALIZEDTHEDEGREETOWHICHTHEIROWNCITIZENSAREDEPENDENTON
)NTERNET SERVICES OFFERED BY 53 COMPANIES %DITORIALS IN THEIR STATE
OWNED NEWSPAPERS INCREASINGLY SPEAK OF INFORMATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY
BY WHICH THEY MEAN THE ABILITY OF THEIR DIGITAL ECONOMIES TO FUNCTION
INDEPENDENTOFFOREIGNSERVICEPROVIDERS
)NKEEPINGWITHTHISTHESEGOVERNMENTSHAVEBEGUNBOLSTERINGTHEIR
DOMESTIC)NTERNETENTERPRISESATTHEEXPENSEOFFOREIGNCOMPETITORS4UR
KEYMADETHEFIRSTMOVEINTOTHISSPACEWITHITSLATE LAUNCHOFTHE
!NABENAPROJECTWHICHISMEANTTOCREATEANATIONALSEARCHENGINETHAT
BETTERCATERSTO4URKISHSENSIBILITIESWITHANATIONALE MAILSYSTEMTO
FOLLOW)RANQUICKLYFOLLOWEDSUITBANNING'MAILIN&EBRUARYAND
ANNOUNCINGITSOWNNATIONALE MAILSYSTEM,ATERINTHESAMEYEAR2US
SIAANNOUNCEDPLANSSIMILARTO4URKEYSINCLUDINGTHEESTABLISHMENTOF
ANATIONALE MAILSERVICEANDTHEALLOCATIONOFMILLIONTOEXPLORE
THEFEASIBILITYOFANATIONALSEARCHENGINE
)T WOULD NOT BE SURPRISING TO SEE THE #HINESE 2USSIAN AND OTHER
GOVERNMENTS DECLARE THAT )NTERNET SEARCH SERVICES ARE A STRATEGIC IN
DUSTRYLIKEENERGYANDTRANSPORTANDMOVETOBLOCKFOREIGNCOMPANIES



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

INTHISAREA)FTHEIMPRESSIONTHAT4WITTERAND&ACEBOOKCANFACILITATE
POLITICALREVOLUTIONSCONTINUESTOGAINCURRENCYSOCIAL NETWORKINGAND
MICROBLOGGINGSERVICESMAYENDUPINTHESTRATEGICCATEGORYASWELL
4HIS WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE BAD NEWS FOR USERS SINCE LOCAL ALTERNA
TIVESTO'OOGLE&ACEBOOKAND4WITTERARELIKELYTOHAVEMORERESTRIC
TIVEATTITUDESTOWARDFREEDOMOFEXPRESSIONANDPRIVACY%VENIFWESEE
NO NEW NATIONAL SEARCH ENGINES EXISTING LOCAL COMPETITORS TO 'OOGLE
#HINAS"AIDUAND2USSIAS9ANDEXFORINSTANCE MAYGROWSTRONGER
ASARESULT
4HE OUTSOURCING OF )NTERNET CONTROL TO THIRD PARTIES /NE WAY FOR
GOVERNMENTSTOAVOIDDIRECTBLAMEFOREXERCISINGMORE)NTERNETCONTROL
ISTODELEGATETHETASKTOINTERMEDIARIES!TAMINIMUMTHISWILLINVOLVE
MAKING)NTERNETCOMPANIESTHATOFFERSOCIAL NETWORKINGSITESBLOGGING
PLATFORMSORSEARCHENGINESTAKEONALARGERSELF POLICINGROLEBYHOLD
INGTHEMACCOUNTABLEFORANYCONTENTTHATTHEIRUSERSPOSTORINTHECASE
OFSEARCHENGINES INDEXANDMAKEAVAILABLE
"EINGABLETOFORCECOMPANIESTOPOLICETHE7EBACCORDINGTOSTATE
DICTATEDGUIDELINESISADREAMCOMETRUEFORANYGOVERNMENT4HECOM
PANIESMUSTBEARALLTHECOSTSDOALLTHEDIRTYWORKANDABSORBTHEUS
ERSIRE#OMPANIESALSOAREMORELIKELYTOCATCHUNRULYCONTENTASTHEY
AREMOREDECENTRALIZEDANDKNOWTHEIROWNONLINECOMMUNITIESBETTER
THANDOTHESTATESCENSORS
)T WOULD BE A MISTAKE TO THINK THAT ONLY AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS
HARBORSUCHAMBITIONS4HE)TALIANGOVERNMENTHASBEENHOLDING9OU
4UBEACCOUNTABLEFORTHEVIDEOSTHATAREPUBLISHEDONITSSITE4HISCRE
ATES AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENTS CAN
JUSTIFYTHEIRACTIONSBYREFERRINGTOSIMILARDEVELOPMENTSINDEMOCRATIC
SOCIETIES
/THERWAYSINWHICHTHIRDPARTIESABET)NTERNETCONTROLAREAPPEARING
ASWELL4HAILANDSSTRICTLAWSAGAINSTL@ESEMAJESTBANTHEPUBLICATION
OF ANYTHING EVEN A 4WITTER POST THAT MAY OFFEND THE COUNTRYS ROYAL
FAMILY 7HEN THE 4HAI BLOGOSPHERES RAPID EXPANSION BEGAN OUTSTRIP
PINGTHEAUTHORITIESMONITORINGCAPACITIESAMEMBEROFPARLIAMENTPRO
POSEDASOLUTIONINEARLY!SITECALLED0ROTECT4HE+INGNETWASSET
UPSOTHAT4HAIUSERSCOULDSUBMITLINKSTOANYWEBSITETHATTHEYDEEMED
OFFENSIVE TO THE MONARCHY !CCORDING TO THE ""# THE GOVERNMENT
BLOCKED FIVE THOUSAND SUBMITTED LINKS IN THE FIRST TWENTY FOUR HOURS
.OTSURPRISINGLYTHESITESCREATORSFORGOTTOPROVIDEAWAYINWHICH
TOCOMPLAINABOUTSITESTHATWEREBLOCKEDINERROR
3IMILARLY3AUDI!RABIAALLOWSITSCITIZENSTOREPORTTOTHE#OMMU
NICATIONSAND)NFORMATION4ECHNOLOGY#OMMISSIONANYLINKSTHATTHEY
FINDOFFENSIVECITIZENSDOSOATANAVERAGERATEOFABOUTTIMESPER
DAY4HISALLOWSTHE3AUDIGOVERNMENTTOACHIEVEACERTAINEFFICIENCYIN
THECENSORSHIPPROCESS!CCORDINGTO"USINESS7EEKINTHE#OM

%VGENY-OROZOV



MISSIONS CENSORSHIP WING EMPLOYED ONLY  PEOPLE ALTHOUGH MANY

OF THEM WERE GRADUATES OF TOP 7ESTERN UNIVERSITIES SUCH AS (ARVARD
AND#ARNEGIE-ELLON"UTMANYSIMILAREFFORTSAREALSOEMERGINGAND
FLOURISHINGORGANICALLYWITHOUTANYAPPARENTSTATEINVOLVEMENT4HUS
AWELL COORDINATEDGROUPOFTWO HUNDREDCULTURALLYCONSERVATIVEVOLUN
TEERSTHATCALLSITSELF3AUDI&LAGGERREGULARLYMONITORSALL3AUDI!RA
BIARELATEDVIDEOSUPLOADEDTO9OU4UBE4HEIRPRACTICEISTOCOMPLAIN
ENMASSEABOUTANYVIDEOSTHATTHEYDONOTLIKEMOSTLYTHESECONTAIN
CRITICISMSOF)SLAMOR3AUDIRULERSBYFLAGGINGTHEMFOR9OU4UBES
ADMINISTRATORSASINAPPROPRIATEANDMISLEADING!MEMBER-AZEN!LI
!LIDESCRIBEDTHISINASPERFORM;ING=OURDUTYTOWARDSOURRELI
GIONANDHOMELAND
0RIVATE SECTORINNOVATIONS4HE)NTERNET CONTROLACTIVITIESOFSECRET
POLICE OFFICIALS IN AUTHORITARIAN STATES ARE INCREASINGLY GETTING A BOOST
FROMBREAKTHROUGHSINDATAANALYSISTHATTHE7EBITSELFISMAKINGCHEAP
ERTOOBTAIN)TISNOTONLYTEXT MESSAGINGTRAFFICTHATISBECOMINGEASIER
TOSEARCHORGANIZEANDACTON6IDEOFOOTAGEISMOVINGINTHATDIRECTION
ASWELLTHUSPAVINGTHEWAYFOREVENMOREVIDEOSURVEILLANCE4HISEX
PLAINSWHYTHE#HINESEGOVERNMENTKEEPSINSTALLINGVIDEOCAMERASINITS
MOSTTROUBLINGCITIES.OTONLYDOSUCHCAMERASREMINDPASSERS BYABOUT
THEPANOPTICONTHATTHEYINHABITTHEYALSOSUPPLYTHESECRETPOLICEWITH
USEFULCLUES)NMID THEREWERECAMERASSCANNING5RUMQI
THECAPITALOF#HINASRESTIVE8INJIANG0ROVINCEANDTHATNUMBERWAS
PROJECTEDTORISETOBYTHEENDOFTHEYEAR
3UCH AN EXPANSION OF VIDEO SURVEILLANCE COULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED
WITHOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF 7ESTERN PARTNERS 2ESEARCHERS AT 5#,!
FUNDEDINPARTBYTHE#HINESEGOVERNMENTHAVEMANAGEDTOBUILDSUR
VEILLANCE SOFTWARE THAT CAN AUTOMATICALLY ANNOTATE AND COMMENT ON
WHATITSEESGENERATINGTEXTFILESTHATCANLATERBESEARCHEDBYHUMANS
OBVIATING THE NEED TO WATCH HOURS OF VIDEO FOOTAGE IN SEARCH OF ONE
PARTICULARFRAME4OMAKETHATPOSSIBLETHERESEARCHERSHADTORECRUIT
TWENTYGRADUATESOFLOCALARTCOLLEGESIN#HINATOANNOTATEANDCLASSIFY
ALIBRARYOFMORETHANTWO MILLIONIMAGES 3UCHAUTOMATEDSYSTEMSARE
CRUCIALINORDERFORVIDEOSURVEILLANCETOBEMASSIVELYSCALEDUPINA
USEFULWAYSINCEITMAKESSENSETOADDNEWCAMERASONLYIFTHEIRFOOT
AGECANBERAPIDLYINDEXEDANDSEARCHED
4HEMADDENINGPACEOFINNOVATIONINDATAANALYSISISPOISEDTOMAKE
SURVEILLANCEFARMORESOPHISTICATEDWITHNEWFEATURESTHATSEEMSTRAIGHT
OUT OF SCIENCE FICTION $IGITAL SURVEILLANCE WILL RECEIVE A SIGNIFICANT
BOOSTASFACE RECOGNITIONTECHNIQUESIMPROVEANDENTERTHECONSUMER
MARKET4HETRADEINFACE RECOGNITIONTECHNOLOGIESISSOLUCRATIVETHAT
EVENGIANTSSUCHAS'OOGLECANNOTRESISTGETTINGINTOTHEGAMEASTHEY
FEEL THE GROWING PRESSURE FROM SMALLER PLAYERS SUCH AS &ACECOM A
POPULARTOOLTHATALLOWSUSERSTOFINDANDAUTOMATICALLYANNOTATEUNIQUE



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

FACES AS THESE APPEAR THROUGHOUT THEIR PHOTO COLLECTIONS )N 
&ACECOM LAUNCHED A &ACEBOOK APPLICATION THAT FIRST ASKS USERS TO
IDENTIFYA&ACEBOOKFRIENDINAPHOTOANDTHENPROCEEDSTOSEARCHTHE
ENTIRE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITE FOR OTHER PICTURES IN WHICH THAT FRIEND
APPEARS"YEARLYTHECOMPANY
WASBOASTINGOFHAVINGSCANNEDNINE
BILLIONPICTURESANDIDENTIFIED MIL
Imagine censorship sysLIONINDIVIDUALS
tems that are as detailed
!PPLICATIONS GO FAR BEYOND FINDING
and as fine-tuned to their
PHOTOS OF ONES FRIENDS ON &ACEBOOK
users (targets) as the
)MAGINE ADVANCED FACE RECOGNITION
behavioral ads that we
TECHNOLOGY IN THE HANDS OF THE )RANIAN
now see every day.
2EVOLUTIONARY 'UARDS AS THEY SEEK TO
FERRET OUT THE IDENTITIES OF PEOPLE PHO
TOGRAPHEDDURING4EHRANSTREETPROTESTS
4HATSAIDGOVERNMENTSHADBEENUSINGFACE RECOGNITIONTECHNOLOGIESTHE
LEGITIMATELAW ENFORCEMENTAPPLICATIONSAREOBVIOUS FORSOMETIMEBE
FORETHESETOOLSBECAMECOMMERCIALLYVIABLE7HATISMOSTLIKELYTOHAP
PENINTHECASEOF)RANISTHATWIDELYACCESSIBLEFACE RECOGNITIONTECHNOLO
GIESWILLEMPOWERVARIOUSSOLOAGENTSCYBER VIGILANTESWHOMAYNOTBE
ON THE PAYROLL OF THE )SLAMIC 2EPUBLIC BUT WHO WOULD LIKE TO HELP ITS
CAUSE *UST AS 4HAI ROYALISTS SURF THE 7EB IN SEARCH OF SITES CRITICIZING
THEMONARCHYORPROGOVERNMENT#HINESEGOONTHELOOKOUTFORPROBLEM
ATICBLOGPOSTSSOWECANPREDICTTHAT)SLAMISTHARD LINERSIN)RANWILLBE
CHECKINGPHOTOSOFANTIGOVERNMENTPROTESTSAGAINSTTHOSEINTHEMASSIVE
COMMERCIALPHOTOBANKSPOPULATEDBYPHOTOSANDNAMESHARVESTEDFROM
SOCIAL NETWORKINGSITESTHATARESURETOPOPUPNOTALWAYSLEGALLYONCE
FACE RECOGNITIONTECHNOLOGYGOESFULLYMAINSTREAM4HECYBER VIGILANTES
MAYTHENCONTINUESTALKINGTHEDISSIDENTSLAUNCH$$O3ATTACKSAGAINST
THEIRBLOGSORSIMPLYREPORTTHEMTOAUTHORITIES
3EARCHENGINESCAPABLEOFFINDINGPHOTOSTHATCONTAINAGIVENFACEANY
WHEREONTHE)NTERNETARENOTFAROFF&OREXAMPLE3!0)2ANAMBITIOUS
PROJECT FUNDED BY THE %UROPEAN 5NION SEEKS TO CREATE AN AUDIOVISUAL
SEARCHENGINETHATWOULDAUTOMATICALLYANALYZEAPHOTOVIDEOORSOUND
RECORDING EXTRACT CERTAIN FEATURES TO IDENTIFY IT AND USE THESE UNIQUE
IDENTIFIERSTOSEARCHFORSIMILARCONTENTONTHE7EB!NANTIGOVERNMENT
CHANTRECORDEDONTHESTREETSOF4EHRANMAYSOONBEBROKENDOWNINTO
INDIVIDUALVOICESWHICHINTURNCANTHENBECOMPAREDTOAUNIVERSEOFALL
POSSIBLEVOICESTHATEXISTONAMATEURVIDEOSPOSTEDON9OU4UBE
/RCONSIDER2ECOGNIZRTHECUTTING EDGESMARTPHONEAPPLICATIONDE
VELOPEDBYTWO3WEDISHSOFTWAREFIRMSTHATALLOWSANYONETOPOINTTHEIR
MOBILE PHONE AT A STRANGER AND IMMEDIATELY QUERY THE )NTERNET ABOUT
WHATISKNOWNABOUTTHATPERSONORTOBEMOREEXACTABOUTTHATPER
SONSFACE )TSDEVELOPERSARETHEFIRSTTOPOINTTOTHETREMENDOUSPRIVA
CYIMPLICATIONSOFTHEIRINVENTIONPROMISINGTHATSTRICTCONTROLSWOULD

%VGENY-OROZOV



EVENTUALLYBEBUILTINTOTHESYSTEM.EVERTHELESSITISHARDTOBELIEVE
THATONCETHEINNOVATIONGENIEISOUTOFTHEBOTTLENOSIMILARROGUEAP
PLICATIONSWOULDBEAVAILABLEFORPURCHASEANDDOWNLOADELSEWHERE
4HERISEOFONLINEPUBLICNESS)FTHEREISACLEARTHEMETOMUCHOFTHE
)NTERNETINNOVATIONOFTHELASTDECADEITISTHATBEINGOPENTOSHARINGONES
PERSONALINFORMATIONCANCARRYBIGBENEFITS-OREANDMOREOFOUR)NTERNET
EXPERIENCEISCUSTOMIZED'OOGLEARRANGESOURSEARCHRESULTSINPARTBASED
ONWHATWEHAVESEARCHEDFORINTHEPASTWHILEOUR&ACEBOOKIDENTITYCAN
NOWTRAVELWITHUSTODIFFERENTSITESFOREXAMPLETHOSEWHOVISITMUSIC
STREAMINGSITESSUCHAS0ANDORAWHILELOGGEDINTO&ACEBOOKWILLBEABLETO
SEEWHATMUSICTHEIR&ACEBOOKFRIENDSLIKEANDRECOMMEND 
7HEN*EFF*ARVISAPROFESSOROFNEWMEDIAATTHE#ITY5NIVERSITYOF
.EW9ORKANDALEADING)NTERNETPUNDITPOINTSOUTTHEBENEFITSOFPUB
LICNESSHEISRIGHT4HEREAREINDEEDTREMENDOUSADVANTAGESTOSHARING
OURLOCATIONFAVORITEMUSICORREADINGLISTSWITHTHERESTOFTHEWORLD
4HE PROBLEM IS THAT A WORLD WHERE SUCH PUBLICNESS CAN BE TURNED
AGAINST US IS NOT SO HARD TO IMAGINEAND )NTERNET PUNDITS ARE USUALLY
THELASTTOPOINTOUTTHATALLTHEDIGITALADVANTAGESCOMEATAPRICE*UST
AS!MAZONRECOMMENDSBOOKSTOUSBASEDONTHEBOOKSTHATWEHAVE
ALREADY PURCHASED IT IS NOT HARD TO THINK OF A CENSORSHIP SYSTEM THAT
MAKESDECISIONSBASEDONTHEPAGESTHATWEHAVEVISITEDANDTHEKINDS
OFPEOPLEWHOMWELISTASOURFRIENDSONSOCIAL NETWORKINGSITES-IGHT
IT BE POSSIBLE THAT IN THE NOT SO DISTANT FUTURE A BANKER WHO PERUSES
NOTHINGONLINEBUT"LOOMBERG.EWSANDTHE&INANCIAL4IMESANDWHO
HAS ONLY OTHER BANKERS AS HER ONLINE FRIENDS WILL BE LEFT ALONE TO DO
ANYTHINGSHEWANTSEVENBROWSE7IKIPEDIAPAGESABOUTHUMAN RIGHTS
VIOLATIONS)NCONTRASTAPERSONOFUNKNOWNOCCUPATIONWHOOCCASION
ALLYREADSTHE&INANCIAL4IMESBUTWHOISALSOLINKEDTOFIVEWELL KNOWN
POLITICALACTIVISTSTHROUGH&ACEBOOKANDWHOHASWRITTENBLOGCOMMENTS
CONTAININGWORDSSUCHASDEMOCRACYANDFREEDOMWILLONLYBEAL
LOWEDTOVISITGOVERNMENT RUNWEBSITESORIFHEISANIMPORTANTINTEL
LIGENCE TARGET HE WILL BE ALLOWED TO VISIT OTHER SITES WITH HIS ONLINE
ACTIVITIESCLOSELYMONITORED 
)FONLINEADVERTISINGISANYTHINGTOJUDGEBYSUCHBEHAVIORALPRECI
SIONISNOTFARAWAY'OOGLEALREADYBASESTHEADSTHATITSHOWSUSONOUR
SEARCHESANDTHETEXTOFOURE MAILS&ACEBOOKASPIRESTOMAKESITSADS
MUCHMOREFINE GRAINEDTAKINGINTOACCOUNTWHATKINDOFCONTENTTHAT
WEHAVEPREVIOUSLYLIKEDONOTHERSITESANDWHATOURFRIENDSARELIK
INGANDBUYINGONLINE)MAGINECENSORSHIPSYSTEMSTHATAREASDETAILED
ANDASFINE TUNEDTOTHEIRUSERSTARGETS ASTHEBEHAVIORALADVERTISING
THATWENOWSEEEVERYDAY4HEONLYDIFFERENCEBETWEENTHETWOISTHAT
ONESYSTEMLEARNSEVERYTHINGABOUTUSINORDERTOSHOWUSMORERELEVANT
ADVERTISEMENTSWHILETHEOTHERONELEARNSEVERYTHINGABOUTUSINORDER
TOBANUSFROMACCESSINGRELEVANTPAGES



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

"YPAYINGSOMUCHATTENTIONTOTHEMOSTCONVENTIONALANDBLANDEST
OF )NTERNET CONTROL METHODS BLOCKING ACCESS TO PARTICULAR 52,S  WE
RISKMISSINGMOREBASICSHIFTSINTHEFIELD)NTERNETCENSORSHIPISPOISED
TOGROWINDEPTHLOOKINGEVERMORETHOROUGHLYINTOWHATWEDOONLINE
ANDEVENOFFLINE)TWILLALSOGROWINBREADTHINCORPORATINGMOREAND
MOREINFORMATIONINDICATORSBEFORETHECENSORORDONOTCENSORDECI
SION IS MADE !RGUABLY 'REEN $AM 9OUTH %SCORTTHE #HINESE SOFT
WARETHATMADEALOTOFNOISEINMID WASAPOORIMPLEMENTATION
OFANEXTREMELYPOWERFULANDDANGEROUSCONCEPT'REEN$AMANALYZED
THEKINDSOFACTIVITIESTHATTHEUSERWASENGAGEDINANDMADEADECISION
ABOUTWHATTOBLOCKORNOTBASEDONSUCHANALYSISRATHERTHANONALIST
OF BANNED SITES ! CENSORSHIP SCHEME THAT MANAGES TO MARRY ARTIFICIAL
INTELLIGENCEANDBASICSOCIAL NETWORKINGANALYSISWOULDNOTONLYBEEX
TREMELYPOWERFULITWOULDALSOHELPTOLIMITTHETHREATTHATCENSORSHIP
CURRENTLYPOSESTOECONOMICDEVELOPMENTTHEREBYREMOVINGONEOFTHE
MAJORREASONSTHATCURRENTLYIMPELSGOVERNMENTSTOAVOIDCENSORSHIP

The Future of Internet Control

4HEFORCESTHATARESHAPINGTHEFUTUREOF)NTERNETCONTROLCOMEFROMTHE
REALMSOFPOLITICSSOCIETYANDBUSINESS)NTHEPOLITICALREALMTHE53
GOVERNMENTANDITSINITIATIVESWILLBETHEBIGGESTSINGLEFORCESHAPINGTHE
ACTIONSOFOTHERGOVERNMENTS!MONGTHEKEYDEVELOPMENTSTOWATCHWILL
BETHOSECONCERNINGTHEFUTUREOFTHE)NTERNETFREEDOMAGENDAANDTHE
EVOLUTIONOFTHE533TATE$EPARTMENTSAPPROACHTOTHE)NTERNET(ILLARY
#LINTONSSPEECHWASAMBITIOUSANDIDEALISTICBUTALSOHIGHLYAMBIVALENT
)TISUNCLEARHOWFARTHE3TATE$EPARTMENTISPREPAREDTOGOINSPEAKING
UPONBEHALFOFBLOGGERSWHOAREJAILEDINCOUNTRIESWHOSERULERSSERVE
53INTERESTS.ORISITCLEARWHATTHEBROADER)NTERNETFREEDOMSTRAT
EGYISTOBEORWHICHPROJECTSWILLRECEIVEPRIORITYFUNDING3OMEVOCAL
ACTIVISTSFROMTHE-IDDLE%ASTHAVEALREADYEXPRESSEDCONCERNSABOUTTHE
INCREASED53 GOVERNMENTFUNDINGINTHISSPACE
)TREMAINSTOBESEENWHETHER)NTERNETFREEDOMMEANSPRIMARILYDE
FENDINGTHEFREEDOMOFTHE)NTERNETTHATISENSURINGTHATGOVERNMENTS
ANDCORPORATIONSAVOIDINCREASINGCENSORSHIPANDSURVEILLANCE ORPROMOT
INGFREEDOMVIATHE)NTERNETTHATISUSINGTHE)NTERNETANDNEWMEDIA
TOFACILITATEANTI AUTHORITARIANMOVEMENTSSUCHAS)RANS'REEN7AVE 
-ANYGOVERNMENTSAROUNDTHEWORLDWORRYTHATTHELATTERAPPROACHWILL
PREDOMINATE#LINTONSREFERENCESTOTHEROLETHATTECHNOLOGYPLAYEDINTHE
PROTESTSIN)RANANDEARLIERIN-OLDOVA DIDNOTHINGTOALLAYTHOSEFEARS
4HETIGHTRELATIONSHIPBETWEENTHE3TATE$EPARTMENTAND53TECH
NOLOGY COMPANIES MAY ALSO PROVE PROBLEMATIC FOR BOTH SIDES AND ITS
FUTURELOOKSUNCERTAIN!S%UROPEANGOVERNMENTSANDTHE5.TAKEON
)NTERNET FREEDOM ISSUES THE 3TATE $EPARTMENT MAY FIND ITSELF FIGHT
INGONTOOMANYFRONTSASTHOSEOTHERGOVERNMENTSANDORGANIZATIONS

%VGENY-OROZOV



WOULDPROBABLYPUSHTOESTABLISHNEWTREATIESANDLAWSMOVESONWHICH
7ASHINGTONISNOTVERYKEEN
7HILE THE 3TATE $EPARTMENT PROMOTES A VAGUE NOTION OF )NTERNET
FREEDOM ABROAD A NUMBER OF DOMESTIC LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLI
GENCEAGENCIESPLUSTHE#OMMERCE$EPARTMENTAREPUSHINGFORSIGNIFI
CANTCHANGESTHATAMOUNTTO)NTERNETCONTROLINITIATIVES4AKENTOGETH
ER CONCERNS IN THE AREAS OF CYBER WARFARE AND CYBER CRIME ELECTRONIC
WIRETAPPING AND )NTERNET PIRACY AND COPYRIGHT REFORM MAY DRIVE THE
53GOVERNMENTTOWARDSEEKINGSIGNIFICANTSWAYOVERTHE)NTERNET
7HATEVER THE DEMOCRATIC MERITS OF SUCH GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES THEY
WILLHAVETHEDRAWBACKOFCREATINGANENABLINGENVIRONMENTFORAUTHOR
ITARIAN GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE KEEN ON PASSING SIMILAR MEASURES MOSTLY
FORTHEPURPOSEOFCURBINGPOLITICALFREEDOM)NADDITIONCONCERNSABOUT
CYBER CRIMEMAYLEADTOTHEPROLIFERATIONANDLEGITIMIZATIONOFPRACTICES
SUCHASDEEPPACKETINSPECTIONWHENNETWORKOPERATORSSCRUTINIZETHE
THE CONTENTS OF DATA PACKETS THAT PASS THROUGH THEIR NETWORKS  DRIVING
DOWNTHECOSTSFORTOOLSANDSERVICESASSOCIATEDWITHIT4HISINTURNMAY
ABETAUTHORITARIANGOVERNMENTSSUCHAS)RANS THATAREALREADYRELYINGON
TECHNOLOGY SUPPLIED BY %UROPEAN COMPANIES SUCH AS .OKIA 3IEMENS TO
ANALYZETHETRAFFICPASSINGTHROUGHNATIONALNETWORKS
)T IS POSSIBLE THAT SOCIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD PUBLICNESS AND PRIVACY
MAYBECOMEMORECAUTIOUSOVERTIME3OFARHOWEVERALLTHEINDICA
TORSARETHAT)NTERNETCOMPANIESWILLCONTINUETOPROMOTETHEPRACTICEOF
SHARINGMOREANDMOREPRIVATEDATAONLINE3HORTOF53AND%UROPEAN
POLICY MAKERS PASSING NEW PRIVACY RELATED LEGISLATIONTHOUGH A FEW
PROPOSALS ARE ALREADY IN THE PIPELINEIT IS UNREALISTIC TO EXPECT WIDER
SOCIALANDCULTURALSHIFTSAWAYFROMPUBLICNESS)NTHEBUSINESSREALM
SOME)NTERNETSERVICEPROVIDERS)30S IN'ERMANYANDTHE.ETHERLANDS
AREMOVINGTOMAKE$$O3ATTACKSCOSTLIERANDMOREDIFFICULTTOMOUNT
BYINFORMINGANYCUSTOMERWHOSECOMPUTERHASBECOMEINFECTEDBYA
BOTNETTHEMASSOFHIJACKEDCOMPUTERSTHATMAKESA$O3ATTACKDIS
TRIBUTED BYREQUIRINGCORRECTIVEMEASURESWHENEVERABOTNETINFECTION
ISDETECTEDONACUSTOMERSMACHINEANDBYURGINGPREVENTIVEMEASURES
TOSTOPSUCHINFECTIONSBEFORETHEYSTART!BSENTSUCHINTERVENTIONSTHE
COST OF $$O3 ATTACKS WILL CONTINUE TO DECLINE AS BOTNETS PROLIFERATE
7HETHERALL)30SWILLACCEPTTHEPOTENTIALLYEXPENSIVETASKOFFIGHTING
BOTNETSREMAINSTOBESEENHOWEVER
3IMILARLY THE SOFTWARE USED FOR ANALYZING AND MINING DATA IS BE
COMING MORE POWERFUL AS BUSINESSES AND INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES DEMAND
IT7HETHERTHEUSEOFSUCHSOFTWARECOULDBELIMITEDONLYTODEMOCRATIC
STATES AND BUSINESS CONTEXTS REMAINS TO BE SEEN IN THE WORST CASE SCE
NARIOSUCHTOOLSMAYENDUPSTRENGTHENINGTHESURVEILLANCEAPPARATUSOF
AUTHORITARIANSTATES
!UTHORITARIANGOVERNMENTSCONTROLTHE)NTERNETTHROUGHTHECOMBINA
TION OF TECHNOLOGICAL AND SOCIOPOLITICAL MEANS )T IS UNCLEAR WHAT THE



*OURNALOF$EMOCRACY

MOST POTENT COMBINATION OF THOSE TYPES IS AN )NTERNET CONTROL SYSTEM
THAT WIELDS MAINLY THE SOCIOPOLITICAL MEANS MAY END UP BEING MORE
DRACONIAN THAN ONE THAT RELIES ON TECHNOLOGICAL MEANS ONLY 4HE GREAT
PARADOX IS THAT THE RISING PROFILE OF LIBERATION TECHNOLOGY MAY PUSH
)NTERNET CONTROL EFFORTS INTO NONTECHNOLOGICAL AREAS FOR WHICH THERE IS
NOEASYTECHNICALFIX
"OTHTYPESOFCONTROLAREMADEPOSSIBLEBYANUMBEROFSOCIALPO
LITICALANDTECHNOLOGICALFACTORSMANYOFWHICHHAVETHEIRROOTSINTHE
ECONOMIESANDGOVERNMENTPOLICIESOFDEMOCRATICSTATES!NYAMBITIOUS
EFFORTTOPROMOTE)NTERNETFREEDOMSHOULDTHEREFOREBEGINBYGENERAT
INGATYPOLOGYOFTHOSEFACTORSASWELLASOUTLININGSOMESTRATEGIESFOR
DEALING WITH THEM 4HE 53 GOVERNMENTS CURRENT )NTERNET FREEDOM
POLICYHASYETTOFACETHISCHALLENGETHOUGHITNEEDSTODOSO
./4%3
*OHN-ARKOFF)RANIANSAND/THERS/UTWIT.ET#ENSORS.EW9ORK4IMES!PRIL

6IRGINIA(EFFERNAN'RANTING!NONYMITY.EW9ORK4IMES-AGAZINE$ECEM
BER
#HARLIE3AVAGE534RIESTO-AKE)T%ASIERTO7IRETAPTHE)NTERNET.EW9ORK
4IMES3EPTEMBER
(ILLARY2ODHAM#LINTON2EMARKSON)NTERNET&REEDOM*ANUARYAVAIL
ABLEATWWWSTATEGOVSECRETARYRMHTM
%RICA.AONE0OLITICAL.ET!TTACKS)NCREASE4ECHNOLOGY2EVIEW-ARCH
 3EE 0OLITICALLY -OTIVATED #YBER !TTACKS (ELP .ET 3ECURITY  /CTOBER 
AVAILABLEATWWWNET SECURITYORGSECWORLDPHPID
4HAI7EBSITETO0ROTECTTHE+ING""#.EWS&EBRUARYAVAILABLEATHTTP
NEWSBBCCOUKHIASIA PACIFICSTM
 0ETER "URROWS )NTERNET #ENSORSHIP 3AUDI 3TYLE "USINESS 7EEK  .OVEMBER

3OREN"ILLING3AUDI#AMPAIGNTO#LEAN5P9OU4UBE)40NET!UGUST
AVAILABLEATWWWITPNET SAUDI CAMPAIGN TO CLEAN UP YOUTUBE
"ILLING3AUDI#AMPAIGNTO#LEAN5P9OU4UBE
 -ICHAEL 7INES )N 2ESTIVE #HINESE !REA #AMERAS +EEP 7ATCH .EW 9ORK
4IMES!UGUST
4OM3IMONITE3URVEILLANCE3OFTWARE+NOWS7HATA#AMERA3EES4ECHNOLOGY
2EVIEW*UNE
-AIJA0ALMER&ACE2ECOGNITION3OFTWARE'AININGA"ROADER#ANVAS&INANCIAL
4IMES-AY