Reimagining Big Tech as Nation States

Abstract

In the last two decades, the growth of the cyberspace has been bolstered by the growth of big technology companies. The behavior of these companies has begun to surpass that of traditional companies due to the nature of their audience as well as the expansion in their operations. When thinking about the growing issue of global cyber governance, there does not seem to be a clear and direct solution. This paper argues that while there is no direct answer to what an ideal structure for global cyber governance will look like, it is important to accord space to big technology companies at the table. The paper classifies the behavior of these companies like that of nation states and utilizes the neoliberal perspective of international relations to highlight the role that non-state entities have always played in international relations. By using the case of Meta, this paper is able to underscore the importance of big tech in cyber governance and outlines why they need to be given a seat at a future table in global governance of cyberspace.