PRISM Affair Hits Like Nuclear Shockwave

In June 2013, Edward Snowden opened the Pandora’s box of the Internet age, and the effects of the incident will spread like a nuclear shockwave. The considerable amount of fallout will primarily manifest itself in six distinct ways.

First, it will be a blow to the reputation of the U.S. As the birthplace and leading developer of the Internet, the U.S. has maintained a commanding lead in the field in past decades. It has always held the moral high ground on the “spirit of the Internet,” controlled dialogue on Internet issues and constantly touted itself as being the most secure and reliable defender of the Internet and the spirit of the Internet, donning the mantle of the de facto “world police” in cyberspace. The scandal has swept the increasingly revered U.S. off its pedestal in one fell swoop.

Second, it is a substantial blow to U.S. control over the Internet. The U.S. is the de facto sole administrator of the global Web. Following this PRISM debacle, all countries will inevitably begin to place much greater importance on Internet security, and European allies which have strongly supported the U.S. in the past will no longer carelessly do so. Under these circumstances, the power to determine a system and set of rules for the global Internet will gradually become more diffuse, albeit at a slow pace.

Third, “netizens” around the world will be affected. The leaking of PRISM and steady stream of information that followed made abundantly clear that the U.S. not only exercises strict surveillance over its own people, but also took great pains to monitor Internet users all over the globe. As an Internet user myself, there goes my sense of security! This is a resounding wake-up call for global awareness of Internet user privacy. The most deleterious effect of PRISM is that it will likely fail to curb the amount of surveillance conducted toward Internet users by many governments worldwide; on the contrary, there may be a sharp increase in such behavior. Why? Because if the U.S. is this brazen in its actions, then which country will not follow suit for fear of being left behind?

Fourth, it will have great import for issues relating to security within global Internet cyberspace. The PRISM affair is not only a clarion call for greater awareness of Internet user security, but even more so for awareness of security within cyberspace. It is a warning that will reach all corners of the globe. The incident will very likely set off an Internet security “arms race” on a global scale.

Fifth, it will have an impact on the high-tech industry and high-tech firms of the U.S. The U.S. high-tech industry is an important link in its control of the global Internet, always hiding behind a facade of pure market activity while putting the spotlight on its own U.S. firms. Within the offensive strategic mindset that the U.S. holds in national security matters, it is hard for anyone to duck responsibility. Snowden revealed that the NSA accomplished its Internet attack activities around the globe primarily via Cisco routers. The backbone of these routers, hundreds of millions of computers utilizing Windows and Intel CPUs, hundreds of millions of cell phones with Android operating systems, as well as Apple’s iPhone, IBM mainframes, etc., encompass the full industry chain and the entire ecosystem. If they are forcibly subject to the needs of the U.S. government, how can other countries rest easy trusting these companies? From now on, how can they not strengthen precautions and security measures? From now on, who will dare continue to place a high degree of trust in U.S. multinational firms?

Sixth, it will have a demonstrable effect in the future of the chess game being played in cyberspace between the U.S. and China. Snowden secreting himself within Hong Kong is no coincidence. It could even be said to be a stroke of genius. Its real impact, intrinsic significance and long-term effects are all divinely inspired. The controversy between the U.S. and China over Internet security has already persisted for some time. Previously, it was always China that stood in a passive position; that is to say, the U.S. won a considerable amount of public support in the first round of sparring. But PRISM has turned the tables for China in this second round, winning those points back. However, this is only a prelude of things to come. The game between both sides is one that will play out over a long time. After all, it is a competition and contest between two types of methods, two systems of values and two different paths. As long as they are able to use their strengths to compensate for weaknesses going into the future and generate positive competition, that is the greatest gospel for Internet development.

The author is director of Zhejiang University of Media and Communications’ Center for Internet and Society and the founder of ChinaLabs.