Special Topics in Internet Security Policy

Study Group, Spring 2016, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Instructor: Bruce Schneier

Mondays, 2-4 PM, Belfer B-L-1 Weil Town Hall

Internet security policy is of critical importance today, and permeates every aspect of our lives. Internet policy is no longer a niche subject; it’s now mainstream policy. This six-session study group will discuss six current Internet policy topics, with the intent of understanding the technical and political issues, the various sides of the debate, and the potential policy implications. The planned six classes are:

  • Data privacy laws and regulations, both domestic and international
  • Regulation of the Internet of Things and cyber-physical systems
  • Encryption and the “going dark” debate
  • Surveillance reform
  • Zero-day vulnerabilities and the equities issue
  • Cyberwar and cyberweapons

Students will come away with a better understanding of the issues discussed, as well as an understanding of how to approach Internet security policy in general.

This study group is open to all interested students, staff, and fellows across Harvard. The goal is to have a mix of backgrounds and disciplines.

Bruce Schneier will lead this study group. An internationally renowned security technologist, he is a prolific author and creative thinker at the intersection of security technology, and people. Schneier is a Research Fellow in the Science, Technology and Public Policy Program in the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School. For the past three years, he has also been a Fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. He is a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, an advisory board member of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, and the Chief Technology Officer of Resilient Systems, Inc. His books and other writings can be found online at www.schneier.com.

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Sidebar photo of Bruce Schneier by Joe MacInnis.