Governing the Digital Frontier : Cyberspace as the New Global Common

Cyberspace is commonly defined as ‘the online world of computer networks, particularly the Internet.’ Its utilisation spans both personal and professional domains, encompassing activities from entertainment and communication to business and the arts, thereby accommodating the full spectrum of contemporary human endeavours. The users of cyberspace include nation-states, corporations, educational institutions, and individuals, among others. The ubiquitous nature of this emergent global common presents unique challenges and a multitude of associated issues. This Working Paper aims to identify the commonalities and differences between cyberspace and other global commons. It will explore the issues related to both direct and indirect threats to national and international security posed by or through cyberspace. Towards the end, the paper will examine the governance of cyberspace and present salient conclusions to mitigate the threats emerging from this domain.