A South African Legal Perspective on the Regulation of Net Neutrality and Its Implications for Cyber-Security and Cyber-Warfare

Abstract

With the approval of Articles 11 and 13 in Europe, net neutrality has become a contentious issue globally. These articles refer to European Union (EU) copyright law, which could possibly destroy the freedom of the internet that once existed. Throughout Europe it has become known as the “meme ban,” referring to the censorship elements. While there is much opposition to these articles, its supporters consider it necessary for the preservation for creative works online. Opposition to the legislation, which includes certain websites and internet presences, remains of the opinion that these two pieces of legislation will mean an end to “meme culture and user-generated content.” Along with the limitation to the freedom of the internet, cyber-security and cyber-warfare risks and vulnerabilities are imminent. This paper seeks to provide an in-depth discussion on the implications of neutrality on cyber-security and cyber-warfare.