Interplanetary Internet Governance

CIGI Paper No. 277

June 22, 2023

The internet has spread to most parts of the world and is now making the leap into space. An interplanetary or solar-system internet will require a governance system that can manage the economic, political and social issues that may arise. To address these issues, internet governance will need multi-stakeholder participation from traditional governments, international organizations and the private sector. This paper looks at the challenges facing the development of a space-based internet architecture and how existing UN space governance treaties and terrestrial internet governance could help mitigate these risks.

About the Author

Laura DeNardis is a CIGI senior fellow and professor and endowed Chair in Technology, Ethics, and Society at Georgetown University.