Socio-Political Effects of Active Cyber Defence Measures

International Journal of Electronic Security and Digital Forensics, 2007

Crime has always existed in the physical world. However, the transition of crime to an electronic medium brought about new challenges that had hitherto been unknown in the physical world. Besides the problems experienced in cyber crime prevention and investigation, the seriousness and consequences of cyber crime has gradually escalated, for example the distribution of child pornography, the growing prevalence of 'identity theft' and money laundering to name but a few. Since the 11 September 2001 terrorist attack on the USA, attention has increasingly focused on the control of the internet in combating terrorism and cyber crime. This paper focuses on the evolution of unregulated internet use to regulated use with the emphasis on state control by means of state surveillance in the interest of national security and combating crime.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the legal justifiability of measures contained in state surveillance laws pertaining to the Internet. Prior to the terrorist attack on the United States of America (U.S.) on 11 September 2001, the concept 'surveillance' was nothing new and is indeed as old as human society. As far back as the sixteenth century the first central state surveillance appeared in Britain. The commercialization of the Internet and computer-related technology replaced the industrial society with an information-based society and contributed to globalization. The Internet brought about many advantages but at the same time unlocked several challenges unknown to the physical world. Internet-connected countries battle to control the flow of information across borders for the purpose of national security and law enforcement. State surveillance of the Internet is utilized in addressing the abuse of the Internet, such as the commission of organized crime and terrorism. The 9/11 terrorist attacks coupled with the effect of globalization reinforced and accelerated the use of technology-based surveillance which includes state surveillance of electronic communications in the U.S. Many countries have since followed suit and introduced legislation providing for state surveillance of Internet communications by means of interception, monitoring, data retention and decryption. The western world has always jealously guarded the protection of human rights, yet new technological and political developments often challenge the human rights culture. The exploitation of the Internet for the commission of serious crimes challenges countries to find ways of controlling cyberspace, whilst at the same time encouraging the continuous growth of the Internet, stimulating technological innovation and enjoying the benefits of the Internet.

2017

The Information Society allowed the interaction and distribution of information and ideasthrough the Internet and cyberspace. Information is power. However, fundamental rights, the rule oflaw and democracy must be preserved. It is therefore necessary to implement public, national,European and international cybersecurity policies. That is why there is a European cybersecuritystrategy. As for the Portuguese case we have developed a growing production of legislation tosafeguard the citizen. The EU economy is already hit by cybercrime against private individuals andthe private sector. Cybercriminals employ increasingly refined procedures to introduce themselvesin computer systems. In countries outside the EU, governments can use cyberspace in aninappropriate way for surveillance and control of their citizens. The EU can refute this position bysupporting online freedom and ensuring respect for fundamental rights online. Increasingly it isdifficult to establish boundaries in the sphere of what is private and in what is public. Constantsurveillance of individuals and not only is inevitable. (PDF) Information society based on surveillance and control.The political implications of heightened surveillance. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/335728307_Information_society_based_on_surveillance_and_controlThe_political_implications_of_heightened_surveillance [accessed Oct 05 2019].

2017

Przegląd Strategiczny

In the era of extremely rapid technological development, the state is directing particular interest towards security in cyberspace and cyber security is becoming a dominant value in its policy. Such a policy may cause a number of negative consequences, such as the willingness to introduce legal regulations that may limit civil rights and freedoms, and in the next stage may lead to violence. As a result, their implementation causes excessive, and often unauthorized, interference of public authorities in the sphere of citizens’ privacy. It should also be stressed that the global nature of the Internet means that mechanisms based on territoriality in a rather limited way ensure effective protection of individual rights against violations by public authorities in cyberspace. In addition to significant physical damage and direct financial losses, the mere likelihood of future cyber threats may cause social distrust and unwillingness to work with new technologies.

Series of events in recent years have forcefully brought global public attention to the situation around internet freedom. In Nigeria, there has been a trend of increasing budgetary allocation for surveillance equipment including internet communications monitoring. In order to ensure this study achieves its aims and objectives, qualitative methodology was used to collect data through in-depth interview. The non-probabilistic sampling technique that was used for this study is purposive sampling and the unit of analysis is organisation. Five information-rich subset of stakeholders in internet censorship and surveillance in Nigeria were interviewed namely; Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC), Paradigm Initiative Nigeria (PIN) and Cybersecurity Expert Association of Nigeria (CSEAN). The study established that, there is no specific law defining internet control and surveillance in Nigeria, thus, what constitutes internet control and surveillance is not defined in any written law in Nigeria. However, there are existing legislations that violates internet users' privacy in Nigeria. The study recommended that, Nigerian government should adhere to the United Nations Human Rights Commission resolution that effectively makes internet access a basic human right.

Journal of Information, Communication and Ethics in Society

Purpose As part of an international study of knowledge of and attitudes to Snowden’s revelations about the activities of the National Security Agency/Government Communications Headquarters, this paper aims to deal with Germany, taking its socio-cultural and political environment surrounding privacy and state surveillance into account. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was answered by 76 German University students. The quantitative responses to the survey were statistically analysed as well as qualitative considerations of free text answers. Findings Snowden’s revelations have had an important influence over German students’ attitudes toward privacy and state surveillance, and show concerns over the privacy risks associated with Internet activity. Practical implications The study results imply a need to build a collective awareness of the importance of the right to privacy and its responsibilities, the available technological options for individuals to exert their own priva...

Current revelations about the secret US-NSA program, PRISM, have confirmed the large-scale mass surveillance of the telecommunication and electronic messages of governments, companies, and citizens, including the United States' closest allies in Europe and Latin America. The trans-national ramifications of surveillance call for a re-evaluation of contemporary world politics' practices. The debate cannot be limited to the United States versus the rest of the world or to surveillance versus privacy; much more is at stake. This collective article briefly describes the specificities of cyber mass surveillance, including its mix of the practices of intelligence services and those of private companies providing services around the world. It then investigates the impact of these practices on national security , diplomacy, human rights, democracy, subjectivity, and obedience.