Alexander Gamero-Garrido, assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Davis, and co-author of the study, explained that autocracies favor this less visible approach to manipulating internet traffic. The research, led by Eda Keremoglu of the University of Konstanz, Germany, uses publicly accessible Border Gateway Protocol data to explore how these networks are governed across different political environments.
While most are familiar with local access networks that connect homes and businesses, the role of transit networks, akin to digital highways that route international internet traffic, is less understood and often operates unnoticed.
In places like the Global North, the relevance of these networks has diminished over the past decade as major providers self-connect. However, in other regions, they are still crucial, Gamero-Garrido noted.
The study's findings indicate that there is little variation in who controls access networks between democratic and authoritarian countries. However, in autocracies, state entities often have substantial influence over transit networks, allowing for more centralized observation and regulation of internet traffic.
Our research identified at least 75 countries where a few, sometimes just one, transit providers dominate, impacting a quarter of global internet users, Gamero-Garrido added.
The team also discovered that state-run internet firms from wealthier autocratic states frequently supply network services to poorer autocratic allies, fostering a web of technological ties among these nations.
This data underlines the potential risks of such centralization, not only for internet stability due to its vulnerability to disruptions but also for the implications it holds for global information flow. Gamero-Garrido suggests enhancing infrastructure to support more direct network interconnections, like Internet Exchange Points and private colocations, to diminish reliance on these controlled transit networks.
Other contributors to this study include Nils Weidmann from the University of Konstanz, Esteban Carisimo from Northwestern University, Illinois, Alberto Dainotti from Georgia Institute of Technology, and Alex Snoeren from UC San Diego. Funding was provided by the German Research Foundation and the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Research Report:Network topology facilitates internet traffic control in autocracies
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