Cybersecurity and Development

Abstract

While scholars and policymakers have realized the importance of information and communication technologies in economic development, relatively less attention has been given to the role of cybersecurity. This research sheds light on issues associated with the "dark side" of digitization in the Global South. We examine the hollowness in the Global South's digitization initiatives that is associated with a poor cybersecurity. The article also advances our understanding of how institutional and structural characteristics of the Global South influence cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity for Elections

“…15 Even targeting a single area of a constituency can sow doubt as to the integrity of broader election processes. 16 The consequences of intrusion, alleged or otherwise, can be highly damaging to public trust. For example, one Commonwealth country in Africa had to re-run presidential elections following allegations that the Elections Management System (EMS) and results transmission mechanism had been compromised, together with an annulment from its Supreme Court which found that the poll was 'neither transparent nor verifiable' .…”

“…The porous national borders and a lack of countries' controls on their territories allow cybercriminals to migrate to jurisdictions with a weaker rule of law [..] In 2008, 40% of arrested cybercrime suspects in Ghana were Nigerians, 38% were Ghanaians and the rest were from Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire and Togo. 16 Co-operation allows countries -especially smaller Commonwealth membersto collectively build a much stronger and most sophisticated capability to defend against attacks compared to acting alone. The Commonwealth 2018 Cyber Declaration emphasises the importance of this co-operation and the Commonwealth Secretariat is already setting up a platform to support this.…”

A Journal for a Fast-Changing World

“…This issue carries a review of the ethical issues in the global fashion system, and it will be followed later by a piece analyzing a number of company cases, and discuss the influence of ethical marketing on brand image and financial performance. Finally, Kshetri (2016) sheds light on issues associated with the "dark side" of digitization in the Global South. The author points at the hollowness in the Global South's digitization initiatives that is associated with poor cybersecurity and the attendant vulnerabilities.…”