In the past twenty years, cyberwar has been a popular term people use when they discuss cybersecurity. Cyberspace has transformed rapidly into a new domain for warfare. This trend has been accelerated by the move to extend the Cold War into cyberspace and strategic studies approaches. The paper first discusses the negative consequences from the securitization and weaponization of cyberspace by military strategists. The authors claim that the narrative of cyberwar itself contributed to destabilization among the powerful countries in cyberspace. Examples of this impact include spread of malware and destabilization attempts for foreign countries through cyberattack. Moreover, at the local level, militarization of cyberspace leads to justification to compromise individuals’ rights and privacy, while the focus on the military capabilities of cyberspace in academia moves us away from getting the holistic picture of the current state of cyberspace.
After that, the authors suggest possible ways to suppress the securitization of cyberspace. First, we can deconstruct the broad terms being used in the domain, such as “cyberwar” and “deterrence,” and replace them with more precise and positive terms. Moreover, we as a society should hold an active debate on whether extreme securitization of cyberspace is desirable. Lastly, the authors argue that demilitarization of cyberspace will lead to stabilization, or “cyberpeace.” It will result in a sustainable and resilient ecosystem with lower risk of escalation and damages.
