Are The Crypto Wars Over? Encryption, Internet Governance, And The Internet Society Action Plan 2021



In the 21st Century, security and privacy threats extend the physical into the Internet, and as a result, create the need for Internet security and /privacy. One of the ways Internet security and privacy can be achieved is through a cryptographic methodknownas Encryption - commonlyusedbypersons and governments to secure data on Internet - accessible systems against unauthorised access. Yet, Encryption technologies face certain threats and challenges. Private firms and governments are proposing the use of encryption backdoors, exceptional access, key escrow, quantum computing, etc. to gain unauthorised access to data secured through Encryption. So, while Encryption technologies are important for Internet security and privacy today, they are currently under threat, making it an existing area of Internet Governance. 


Through Internet Governance,  members of  majority stakeholder  groups, such as the Internet Society, continue to collaborate to protect the security and privacy potential  of Encryption. The Internet Society Action Plan 2021 - a three-fold strategic plan to empower people, grow the Internet and strengthen it – explains how the Internet Society is partnering with communities to protect the Internet and defend it against threats. These communities mobilise individuals, private firms, and governments to protect Encryption methods through projects such as The Global Encryption Coalition.

While there is a plethora of trends and areas in the realm of Internet Governance, this paper focuses on Encryption, and how the Internet Society through its 2021 Action Plan is making efforts to empower people to create a bigger and stronger Internet.