A new role for ‘the public’? Exploring cyber security controversies in the case of WannaCry

Tobias Liebetrau, Kristoffer Kjærgaard Christensen

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

As cyber-security incidents become increasingly prevalent, we are facing a major political and democratic challenge: who comprises “the public” in relation to such incidents? Based on a study of the controversies surrounding the WannaCry ransomware attack, this article unpacks issues facing the creation of publics in contemporary ICT-mediated security practices. It shows how cyber-security incidents, such as WannaCry, do not neatly align with traditional national security politics and democracy, and it demonstrates the need to attend to how security publics are created. This may paradoxically entail both political and democratic challenges and possibilities for security politics in the digital age.

Original languageEnglish
JournalIntelligence and National Security
Volume34
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)395-408
ISSN0268-4527
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 16 Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Faculty of Social Sciences

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