Internet governance and cyber-security: a systematic literature review

• Published in: Information security journal. Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 158 - 171
• Main Authors: Yusif, Salifu, Hafeez-Baig, Abdul, Anachanser, Charles
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 03.03.2024; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Cybersecurity; cyberspace; Internet; Internet governance; Literature reviews; multi-stakeholder/multilateral; Public health; Systematic review
• ISSN: 1939-3555; 1939-3547
• DOI: 10.1080/19393555.2023.2268608

This study aims to uncover the challenges of Internet governing bodies to inform a trajectory for better cybersecurity governance and policy formulation. Using a systematic literature review approach, we found that the struggle for dominancy/power for the Internet continues to overshadow the calls for multi-stakeholder/multilateralism given 35 (47.3%) of the total (74) reviewed papers focused on varied issues and overlaps. The power-driven nature of the numerous Internet governing bodies against 14 (20%) of the total included studies calling for some form of the global representative body, including public health, if the quest for ".health" was to be successful. Another 23(21) (34%) were concerned over the implications of the problem of Internet governance on cybersecurity in general. The study also found that as the Internet and its governance issues offload the privacy and security burden and supervision concerns characterized the telecommunications are heightened in the context of social awareness in cyberspace, cybersecurity has become necessary with businesses and the government spending much time and resources to combat cyber-attacks, majority of which are inter-jurisdictional.