We are at a critical juncture in how we understand internet freedom and its safeguarding. Even democracies that have been the staunchest promoters of global internet freedom are backtracking, guided by efforts to mitigate transnational threats connected to digital technologies, preserve digital sovereignty and strengthen cybersecurity. To secure the benefits unlocked by decentralised, global communications networks, it is essential to understand how and why the idea of internet freedom has changed over time and the global politics of its promotion. Our project makes a critical intervention in this debate by examining how four groups of actors – the tech and academic community, non-profit advocacy organisations, states, and corporations – have influenced how we conceptualise internet freedom and evaluating the real-world consequences of their ideas. The project draws together approaches from media history to internet governance and IR to produce a co-authored book, critically surveiling the past, present and future of internet freedom.
Lokot, T. & Wijermars, M. (2023). The politics of internet freedom rankings. Internet Policy Review, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.14763/2023.2.1710.
Research Topics
- internet freedom
- human rights
- internet governance
- digital politics
- power
Research Results
The key result of the Working Group research and collaboration is the development of a novel theoretical framework of global norm contestation around internet freedom, addressing the lack of conceptual clarity around the notion and unpacking the power hierarchies involved in defining it. The framework is at the heart of the co-authored book which is currently in an advanced stage of development. While drawing upon scholarship in International Relations on global norms, the framework is innovative in how it incorporates insights from other disciplines, including media history, internet governance and science and technology studies, to critically surveil the past, present and future of internet freedom. This interdisciplinarity makes it possible to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the various stakeholders participating in norm contestation around internet freedom and in determining its uses in politics, diplomacy, the corporate world and society at large. The insights gained from the WG work will be relevant to academics, policymakers, and civil society actors operating in the digital rights space.
- Completed 2 chapters for the book manuscript, with the aim to submit the book proposal and sample chapters in May 2025.
- Co-convened a special Section with a panel on the Politics of Internet Freedom for the 2025 ECPR conference, endorced by the Politics and Internet Standing Group.
- Submitted a paper to the above ECPR Section.
- Submitted a conceptual paper focusing on internet freedom and digital sovereignty to the 2025 GIG ARTS Symposium.