Atlas of internet surveillance maps ownership of network infrastructures worldwide

A German-American research team has created an “Atlas of Internet Surveillance” by mapping the ownership of network infrastructures worldwide to reveal how autocrats control the internet via state-owned service providers. The study found that authoritarian states often have more influential internet service providers that are state-owned, while transit networks used for routing data traffic are more likely to be controlled by states in these countries. In contrast, democratic countries tend to have privatized internet service providers and more influence from private companies on transit networks. The research also highlights the existence of clusters of technological cooperation between authoritarian states, which can help circumvent privacy standards and promote autocratic models while engaging in cross-border cooperation.