Cyberdeterritorialization – good or evil?

In recent months and weeks, neural networks, cyber activity, and the associated useful innovations and threats have rapidly entered our lives. Therefore, in the articles of the information agency "Res" more and more often you will encounter terms from the world of cybernetic neural networks. And we should know them. One of these terms is cyberdeterritorialization. What is it?

Cyberdeterritorialization is a concept that links territorial principles characteristic of the physical world with cyberspace. It is a process in which states, organizations, or even individual groups seek to establish control, influence, or sovereignty over certain segments of cyberspace, similar to how they control physical territories.

In more detail, cyberspace is a virtual environment in which computers, networks, data, and users interact. Unlike the physical world, cyberspace does not have clearly defined boundaries, which makes it more difficult to regulate and control.

However, as technology advances and the importance of digital information increases, states and organizations have begun to view cyberspace as a resource that can be “territorialized” – that is, subject to certain rules, laws, or even direct control.

Cyberdeterritorialization can take the following forms:

1. State control over the Internet. Some states seek to restrict their citizens’ access to certain parts of the Internet and establish “digital borders.” An example is the “Great Firewall of China,” which regulates access to the global network and blocks certain websites and services. National domains, servers, and infrastructures are also created to minimize dependence on foreign technology and ensure control over data within the country.

2. Cybersovereignty. This is the idea that states have the right to establish their own laws and regulations regarding cyberspace within their borders. For example, Russia is actively promoting the concept of a “sovereign Internet,” which is capable of operating autonomously from the global network if necessary.

3. Privatization of cyberspace. Private companies also play an important role in cyberdeterritorialization. For example, large technology corporations such as Google, Amazon, Microsoft, effectively “own” huge parts of cyberspace through their cloud platforms, data centers and services.

4. Cyber warfare and hacker attacks. Some states or groups use cyber attacks to establish control over the digital resources of other countries. For example, hacking infrastructure, stealing data or sabotaging systems can be a form of “capturing” territory in cyberspace.

5. Creating regional cyberspaces. The European Union, for example, is actively working to create a single digital market that would act as a separate “territory” within the global Internet, with its own laws and standards, such as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation).

What problems and challenges does cyber deterritorialization bring?

Unlike the physical world, where borders can be marked on a map, in cyberspace borders are often blurred. This makes it difficult to determine where the influence of one state ends and the jurisdiction of another begins.

Establishing control over cyberspace can lead to conflicts between countries, corporations and users. For example, attempts at censorship or restricting access cause discontent among citizens.

Cyberdeterritorialization can limit freedom of speech and access to information if states or companies begin to regulate cyberspace too strictly.

But there are also situations when cyberdeterritorialization is simply impossible, because states are obliged to protect their citizens, especially children and young people, from harmful and dangerous information.

In this regard, we can only express gratitude to the government of the People's Republic of China, which managed to navigate this rapidly changing environment in time and recognize the threat.

For example, China took preventive measures several years ago, while, for example, we still suffer from threats emanating from groups created by the enemies of our country to promote suicide, especially among children and adolescents (!)

We must learn from China, we must take advantage of its experience. It actively blocks access to foreign sites and develops its own analogues of popular services (for example, WeChat instead of WhatsApp, Baidu instead of Google).

Russia has also taken certain steps, but it is difficult to judge how effective they are. Russia has developed legislation that allows isolating the national segment of the Internet from the global network in the event of a threat.

Well, naturally, Europe is not sitting idle either. The European GDPR has been adopted. Although this is not direct cyber-deterritorialization, the introduction of strict data protection rules in the EU effectively creates a “digital territory” with special norms.

So cyber-deterritorialization is a complex process that reflects the desire of states and organizations to establish control over virtual space.

While it can contribute to increased security and data protection, it also carries risks for internet freedom and global interaction. In the context of the increasing digitalization of the world, this topic is becoming increasingly relevant and requires international cooperation and regulation.

Inal Pliev
Source: https://cominf.org/node/1166559992