Cybersecurity Originalism, or What Ben Franklin and John Jay Would Have Thought about Signal

In a fascinating dive into the intersection of history and modern technology, this article explores how 18th-century figures like Ben Franklin and John Jay would react to today’s cybersecurity challenges. It highlights the long-standing issues of surveillance and information warfare that have evolved but are not new to society, tying these historical debates to contemporary dilemmas.

Source: Berkman Klein Center

Key Points

  • Surveillance has been a concern since the American Revolution, with Franklin and Jay involved in intelligence efforts.
  • The article connects past and present discussions about privacy and security.
  • Timothy H. Edgar and Christopher Bavitz discuss the historical context of cybersecurity practices.
  • The talk aims to reflect on what these historical figures might conclude about current technologies like Signal.
  • Understanding history can inform better modern cybersecurity policies and public attitudes toward privacy.

Why should I read this?

If you’re intrigued by how historical perspectives can shape our understanding of today’s tech issues, this article is a must-read! It cleverly weaves together past and present, giving you insight into not just what has changed, but what has remained critically relevant in the fall-out from those historical surveillance practices. Trust us, you’ll come away looking at cybersecurity in a whole new light.