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Happy to announce my dissertation is available online:
Wired Norms - Inscription, resistance, and subversion in the governance of the Internet infrastructure
https://dare.uva.nl/search?identifier=9dff56cd-0ec6-40fa-b136-105bed8ac243
Wired Norms - Inscription, resistance, and subversion in the governance of the Internet infrastructure
https://dare.uva.nl/search?identifier=9dff56cd-0ec6-40fa-b136-105bed8ac243
In this work, I examine the role of norms in the governance of the Internet infrastructure.
Based on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of different Internet governance bodies, namely @ICANN, @ietf, and @ripencc, I developed a theory.
Based on extensive qualitative and quantitative analysis of different Internet governance bodies, namely @ICANN, @ietf, and @ripencc, I developed a theory.
Norms only get introduced and maintained in the governance of the Internet infrastructure if they:
1) Are translated to the social worlds of the significantly represented groups
2) Increase voluntary interconnection and interoperation between independents networks.
1) Are translated to the social worlds of the significantly represented groups
2) Increase voluntary interconnection and interoperation between independents networks.
If this is not the case, the norm will get resisted, rejected, and subverted.
The norm that this is based on, the evaluative norm, I call 'the infrastructural norm of voluntary interconnection'.
The norm that this is based on, the evaluative norm, I call 'the infrastructural norm of voluntary interconnection'.
This infrastructural norm is reflected in economic incentives, institutional configurations, technological materiality, as well as a sociotechnical imaginary in the governance of the Internet infrastructure.
That is to say, people engaged in the governance of the Internet infrastructure really believe what they are doing is 'for the good of the Internet'.
This translates to: Creating more Internet through interoperation and interconnectivity.
This translates to: Creating more Internet through interoperation and interconnectivity.
I argue that this is exactly why structural considerations of the societal impact of protocols and policies are not made in the governance of the Internet infrastructure.
The private 'multistakeholder' Internet governance regime is optimized for creating more interconnection.
The private 'multistakeholder' Internet governance regime is optimized for creating more interconnection.
This is why it is such a struggle to align the internet infrastructure with data protection and human rights. The current governance system is simply not optimized for it, and it has no incentives to do so.
Arguably, this is why governments are going back to regulation - because their needs are not met in private Internet governance deliberations. In that sense, Internet governance has undermined itself.
This has led to the emergence of a multilateral and private Internet governance regime.
Future research can show whether this regime complex will reintegrate because private Internet governance will start taking societal values into account, or not...
Future research can show whether this regime complex will reintegrate because private Internet governance will start taking societal values into account, or not...
If you are interested in the governance of large technical infrastructures - feel free to hit me up.
I am always more than happy to chat, collaborate, teach classes, give talks, contribute to policy processes, etc.
Please let me know what you think of the dissertation!
I am always more than happy to chat, collaborate, teach classes, give talks, contribute to policy processes, etc.
Please let me know what you think of the dissertation!
As pretty much all work, I was not able to do this alone. Have a look at the acknowledgments section for a lot of mentions, but I want to mention a few people here:
The Global Digital Team at @article19 : @mehwishaansari @VidushiMarda @C___CS @MalloryKnodel @teirdes @quinnmck @thomasmhughes. With them, I embarked on my first explorations in Internet governance and human rights. Together we thought, fought, reflected, and deliberated a lot.
My academic home and comrade-researchers at the @data_ctive team at @UvA_Amsterdam : @annliffey @F_Kaltheuner @pondswimmer @Kolenyo @david_berra @KerstiRu
@_vecna Jeroen de Vos, Lonneke van der Velden @sandervhaperen @jwyg @FabienCante
@_vecna Jeroen de Vos, Lonneke van der Velden @sandervhaperen @jwyg @FabienCante
People that helped me find my feet in Internet governance: @gap_the_mind @miltonmueller @farzanehbadii @LlanOldDog @anvilwalrusden @britram @mnot @larse @MirjamKuhne @Ms_Multicolor @shivan_kaul @GurshabadGrover @bortzmeyer @hardaker @kkomaitis @ellenstrickland @jordantcarter
Many fellow digital rights activists who keep the
burning @FiekeJ @sannste @joana_varon @avilarenata @pazpena @MPaz_online @CBradleyTweets @gutermul @rmack @MilanesVale @giselilla @willems_leon @claudio @leandrotx @royaensafi @SophieToupie @nighatdad @e3i5 @carlykind_
burning @FiekeJ @sannste @joana_varon @avilarenata @pazpena @MPaz_online @CBradleyTweets @gutermul @rmack @MilanesVale @giselilla @willems_leon @claudio @leandrotx @royaensafi @SophieToupie @nighatdad @e3i5 @carlykind_
All the inspiring academics with great work: @ashwinjm @MadelineCarr @leotanczt @Elinor_Carmi @sedyst @mckelveyf @kevindriscoll @BiellaColeman @jorisvanhoboken @npdoty @bhaggart @sbenthall @benwagne_r @1lucabelli @linnetelwin @tpoell @wyatt_sally @ckatzenbach @svitlanax
The best part of interdisciplinary work has been to think and act together with all these great individuals and contribute to a movement for rights and equality in information societies. 
And of course all the people that do not fit neatly in one category: @beatricemartini @JoeBeOne @why0hy @chickpurchase @deblebrown @demkodo @ErnstHemel
