The Internet of Things is the popularized theory that as technology progresses, the internet will become even more pervasive as a form of communication between, quite frankly, everything. This theory is already becoming actualized with the introduction of smart home technology, which connects every aspect of a person’s domestic life, and the utilization of cloud databanks to store personal information.
American University Professor Laura DeNardis notes as much, claiming that the “Internet of Things represents a new policy frontier for global technological policy makers as well as a significant risk for global consumers.”[1]The risk comes in the form of privacy breaches and cyberterrorism which potential for catastrophic damage has scaled exponentially in concert with the growth of the internet.
To that end, I will be focusing my research toward global policy frameworks which will help limit the potential for disaster via cyber-attacks. This work is akin to non-proliferation treaties (NPT) such as the Nuclear NPT of 1970 and the chemical weapons convention of 1997 which continued the ban on chemical weapon in warfare. Because of the topic, there are a plethora of potential rabbit holes in which my research could take me. However, with the insights of my academic mentor, Dr Josh Rovner, I am confident we will be able to whittle this topic down to a manageable size.
Similarly, I had the opportunity to work with American University Professor Nanette Levinson who was able to direct my project towards the International Studies theory of global governance. Dr Levinson is a proponent of the theory that international change can only be achieved through a multistakeholder approach which shows clear benefits for all parties involved[2]. I plan to use the models provided by Dr Levinson to establish the potential actors involved in this project, as well as possible paths towards legislation.
[1]DeNardis, Laura and Mark Raymond. “The Internet of Things as a Global Policy Frontier.” University of California, Davis Law Review 475. (2017). DOI: https://lawreview.law. ucdavis.edu/issues/51/2/Symposium/51-2_DeNardis_Raymond.pdf
[2]Levinson, Nanette and Meryem Marzouki. “International Organizations and Global Internet Governance: Interorganizational Architecture.” Information Technology and Global Governance. (2016). doi: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137483591_3.