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.
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