Page 128 - Cyber Defense eMagazine January 2024

A similar story is playing out in the Middle East. Israel controls much of the physical infrastructure which
powers the internet in Gaza, and this has allowed Israel to impose strategic communications blackouts to
aid its invasion. By severely slowing internet speeds – if not cutting connectivity altogether – Israel has
been able to control cyberspace, preventing the spread of information and hampering its enemies’ ability
to communicate at the war’s most critical early junctures. The problem, as ever, is that non-combatants
are inevitably caught in the crossfire. In this case, citizens have been left without internet access at a
time when online connectivity – which allows the spread of news about evacuations, aid supplies, and
medical access – can be lifesaving.

The Second Cold War

If war can be said to have a second casualty, after truth, it is probably freedom. In addition to conflicts in
Europe and the Middle East, some observers believe the world is also heading for a new Cold War. The
old battle lines have been redrawn, however, so that it is now China – and not Russia – who can be
thought of as the United States’ main adversary. There are many potential flashpoints between China
and the US, but disagreements over the governance and independence of Taiwan is the one which has
been in the news lately. The two superpowers are also major economic competitors, and China is
currently in the process of expanding and modernising its nuclear arsenal – a move which has set some
US observers on edge.

The two powers are also competing in cyberspace (as everywhere else) and their rivalry has manifested
in internet restrictions on both sides. The Chinese state is famous for its regime of total control of the
internet, with its ‘Great Firewall of China’ blocking citizens from viewing any and all content which the
authoritarian government doesn’t want them to see. As tensions with America rise, it is possible that the
Chinese government will further tighten its stranglehold on the internet in the name of national security.
This represents another clear instance where the usefulness and importance of VPNs cannot be
overstated.

The internet in America may be much freer, but there are still prominent voices in the US calling for
greater online restrictions in response the perceived Chinese threat. Lawmakers have recently debated
banning TikTok – owned by Chinese firm ByteDance – over fears around espionage and dodgy data
practices, and the attitude of suspicion towards Chinese technology is only growing. Perhaps this
suspicion is justified, but ultimately, the American people are the ones who will suffer if their government
pulls up the online drawbridge by banning Chinese apps and software.

Preserving Online Freedoms

Against this backdrop of volatility and conflict, it would be easy to simply surrender our claim to a free
and open internet. National security is important, of course, and many of the justifications for wartime
restrictions on internet usage may sound reasonable – especially at first, in the heat of battle. But law-
abiding citizens are the ones who stand the lose the most if we allow the dream of a free internet to
become another casualty of war.

Cyber Defense eMagazine – January 2024 Edition 128
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