Transforming Information and Communications Technology and Cybersecurity for Public Service
What is wrong?
Essential digital infrastructure is increasingly controlled by a small number of corporations.
Communities, governments and businesses rely on platforms they cannot inspect, repair or easily replace. Cyberattacks, surveillance, insecure devices and weak data practices threaten essential services.
What is working?
- Open-source software
- Privacy-preserving systems
- Community broadband
- Zero-trust security
- Secure communication tools
- Digital public infrastructure
- Cooperative data governance
- Cybersecurity education
- Offline continuity planning
Seven discussion questions
- Who controls the digital systems communities depend on?
- What information should remain private?
- How can communities prepare for cyber disruptions?
- When should open-source systems replace proprietary platforms?
- How should artificial intelligence be governed in the public interest?
- How can digital access become a public capability?
- What can individuals and organizations secure immediately?
Desired outcome
Create a basic digital resilience checklist covering security, backups, communications and platform dependency.