American University’s School of Communication (SOC) and School of International Service (SIS) are teaming up to celebrate the launch of “The Turn to Infrastructure in Internet Governance.” 

The book brings together a group of interdisciplinary international scholars to examine the current structure of internet governance. This new book brings together leading international thinkers in Internet governance to address and emerging phenomenon: not governance of the Internet, but governance by co-opting the infrastructure of the Internet. Examples include the use of the Domain Name System for censorship and content filtering, attempts to build back doors into encryption products, and national data localization laws requiring companies to store data within geographical borders. This book addresses what is at stake for Internet freedom and innovation, and for the prospect of a universal and open Internet, in this turn to infrastructure for Internet governance. 

It was edited by three AU and Internet Governance Lab faculty: Derrick L. Cogburn (SIS), Nanette S. Levinson (SIS), and Laura Denardis (former SOC Faculty) and by Francesca Musiani, an independent researcher with Centre National de la Rechrche Scientifique France. 

The book launch will be on April 13th from 10 to 11:30 am in the Abramson Family Founders Room, SIS Building. 

Professors Cogburn, DeNardis, and Levinson will be joined by Dean James Goldgeier of the School of International Service, Jeffrey Rutenbeck of the School of Communication, and a panel discussion on the future of Internet governance with special guests: 

• Fiona Alexander, NTIA, Department of Commerce 
• Kathy Brown, President and CEO of the Internet Society

The event is co-sponsored by The Internet Society (DC Chapter).