Publication

Protecting Transnational Critical Information Infrastructure: Vitality, Vulnerability and Diplomacy

This paper, like the seminar on which it is based, considers how the governance of transnational critical information infrastructure (CII) could be approached at the global level. It suggests that when one is thinking about the (potential) governance of CII, it is important to recognise that not all infrastructure that is critical is also necessarily vulnerable.

Author

Lise Andersen & Dennis Broeders

Date

18 December 2023

Links

Download 'Protecting Transnational Critical Information Infrastructure'

Thus, tailored approaches to its governance are required – as is shown to be the case with Internet Exchange Points. In addition, the paper concludes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach for the governance of different types of CII. The example of subsea cables makes it clear that for some CII, a deeper technical–political calculation accounting for the geopolitical context needs to be undertaken. Finally, the paper suggests that the EU could table a proposal at the Open Ended Working Group for a model of meetings that can be hosted under the Programme of Action. These meetings can bring together specialist technical knowledge and diplomatic expertise to advance understandings on topics that surface in the negotiations, including on issues of transnational CII governance.