Ruptures in the Digital Commons

The knowledge commons in Kenya has brought to the fore long-simmering concerns about the balkanization of cyberspace into a series of regional, or even national-level intranets. This stands in marked contrast to a global, interoperable, and secure knowledge commons long championed not only by the U.S. government, but many in the academic community. This panel will separate hype from reality, and discuss among other things a recent CFR report calling for a change in the way that the U.S. views cyberspace, and the extent to which Internet access – and with it privacy, and security – have become not only critical shared infrastructure, but invaluable human rights. What role can tools developed by the Ostroms, including the GKC Framework and polycentricity, play in helping us chart a path forward for Africa, and the world?