CSPP Seminar: Geopolitics Behind Data Routing

February 9, 2022

12:00-1:30 pm ET

Zoom: need to pre-register

Speaker: Frederick Douzet, Professor of Geopolitics at the University of Paris 8, Director of the French Institute of Geopolitics Research Team (IFG Lab) and Director of the Center Geopolitics of the Datasphere (GEODE)

Host: Cybersecurity & Public Policy Seminar

Abstract

In January 2022, Kazakhstan totally shut down its Internet as political unrest escalated across the country. This incident is not isolated. In November 2019, in the wake of severely suppressed political demonstrations against the regime, Iran managed to cut off most traffic from the global Internet, while still fully operating its own domestic network. Within the course of 24 hours, the regime was able to selectively block access to the outside Internet for most users, except for a small portion of traffic vital to its economy such as banking data.

These initiatives reflect new ways in which states think strategically about cyberspace and leverage the architecture of data routing as a tool of geopolitical control. The analysis of the topography (physical infrastructures) and topology (BGP data) of the network helps infer, document and characterize these strategies.

To register for event, and to receive Zoom details, please email joshua.anderson@tufts.edu.