Authors

Chris Bronk

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Christopher Bronk is the fellow in technology, society and public policy (TSPP) at Rice University's Baker Institute. He previously served as a career diplomat with the United States Department of State on assignments both overseas and in Washington, D.C. He has experience in information policy, cybersecurity, political affairs, immigration and U.S.–Mexico border issues. Since arriving at Rice, Bronk has divided his attentions among a number of areas including information security, technology for immigration management, broadband policy, Web 2.0 governance and the militarization of cyberspace. He teaches on the intersection of computing and politics in Rice’s George R. Brown School of Engineering. Bronk has provided commentary for a variety of news outlets including ABC, NPR, the BBC and The Houston Chronicle. Holding a Ph.D. from The Maxwell School of Syracuse University, Bronk also studied international relations at Oxford University and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Articles written by Chris Bronk

Translating the U.S. International Cyber Strategy Into Action

By Chris Bronk 19 May 2011 | Briefing

The Stuxnet computer worm, WikiLeaks and the social-media-facilitated revolutions of the Arab Spring have already provided ample reason for a high-level U.S. policy on cyber issues. Now the killing of Osama bin Laden has provided an opening for a broader strategic dialogue in Washington, one that includes cyberspace in its proper context. This policy discussion has been a long time coming.

Cybersecurity: Protect the Internet, but How?

By Chris Bronk 29 Jun 2010 | World Politics Review

Since late last year, members of the U.S. Congress have introduced no less than 34 different bills dealing with information security and Internet policy. Congress has been working diligently in an effort to do something -- anything, really -- about hardening the nation's cyber-infrastructure. Among the challenges they face is that it remains difficult to realistically prioritize when it comes to cyber vulnerabilities.

Google's Internet Diplomacy in China

By Chris Bronk 30 Mar 2010 | World Politics Review

Google's decision to challenge China's internet censorship practices is clearly a bold one, and by using by using a fissure in the politics of contemporary China to do so, it may also prove to be shrewd. At the very least, Google is playing a deeper political game than one would typically expect of a corporate entity, and in the process, it is further blurring the boundaries between technology and sovereignty.

Toward Cyber Arms Control with Russia

By Chris Bronk 19 Jan 2010 | World Politics Review

In the past few years, concerns over the growing risk of cyber warfare have been supplemented by evidence of actual cyber attacks, many likely launched with the aid of nation-states. When the United States sounds the alarm on cyber wrongdoings, China or Russia are typically "the usual suspects." Given these suspicions, recent reports of U.S.-Russian cyber-security talks should raise flags.

Ending uGov a Step Back for U.S. Intel Community

By Chris Bronk 15 Oct 2009 | World Politics Review

If there is one lesson we should have learned from 9/11 regarding intelligence collection, it is that the national intelligence bureaucracy's "need to know" bias should be replaced with an emphasis on the "need to share." That's why the U.S. Intelligence Community's decision to shut down uGov, a webmail system for the IC and those who need to work with it on a regular basis, is alarming.

Our Newest Air Force: Readying for War in Cyberspace

By Chris Bronk 10 Sep 2009 | World Politics Review

While America's military gains a great deal in exploiting its cyber-infrastructure, that same infrastructure can potentially be exploited by enemies as well. Although we need not panic about this, we do need to do something to address it. The newly formed 24th Air Force is a clear demonstration of intent from the Air Force regarding its cyber mission. Less clear is how that intent will be operationalized.

Time to Move Toward a More Secure Cyberspace

By Chris Bronk 13 Aug 2009 | World Politics Review

For more than a decade, the vulnerability to networked computer systems has been considered, with worst-case scenarios running from "Electronic Pearl Harbor" to "Cyber Katrina." Preliminary moves for defending the country's computer networks have been made, but policymaking interest may outpace technical reality. We still seem to be a long way from a cohesive game plan for cyber security.