VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s)
How do we come to trust, use and govern virtual private networks (VPNs)? How do these objects of the internet tack back and forth between metaphor and technical processes as they garner usership and critique? This paper aims to answer these questions by considering VPNs as boundary objects. We follo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society
2020-10-01
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| Series: | Internet Policy Review |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://policyreview.info/node/1513 |
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| _version_ | 1850073822215012352 |
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| author | Luke Heemsbergen Adam Molnar |
| author_facet | Luke Heemsbergen Adam Molnar |
| author_sort | Luke Heemsbergen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | How do we come to trust, use and govern virtual private networks (VPNs)? How do these objects of the internet tack back and forth between metaphor and technical processes as they garner usership and critique? This paper aims to answer these questions by considering VPNs as boundary objects. We follow Susan Leigh Star’s (2010) call to further explore the ‘tacking’ back and forth of boundary objects as both symbolic and technical objects. This is applied within internet-space and governance-space through empirical methods that walkthrough a typical user experience for acquiring VPN services, while also offering a systemic account of the discourse that such a user would experience in coming to understand VPNs and their function. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e0439e0b378a4f2ab24d62c6cf67f3cd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2197-6775 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-10-01 |
| publisher | Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Internet Policy Review |
| spelling | doaj-art-e0439e0b378a4f2ab24d62c6cf67f3cd2025-08-20T02:46:43ZengAlexander von Humboldt Institute for Internet and SocietyInternet Policy Review2197-67752020-10-019410.14763/2020.4.1513VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s)Luke Heemsbergen0Adam Molnar1Deakin UniversityUniversity of WaterlooHow do we come to trust, use and govern virtual private networks (VPNs)? How do these objects of the internet tack back and forth between metaphor and technical processes as they garner usership and critique? This paper aims to answer these questions by considering VPNs as boundary objects. We follow Susan Leigh Star’s (2010) call to further explore the ‘tacking’ back and forth of boundary objects as both symbolic and technical objects. This is applied within internet-space and governance-space through empirical methods that walkthrough a typical user experience for acquiring VPN services, while also offering a systemic account of the discourse that such a user would experience in coming to understand VPNs and their function.https://policyreview.info/node/1513Boundary objectMetaphorRegulationPrivacySecurity |
| spellingShingle | Luke Heemsbergen Adam Molnar VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) Internet Policy Review Boundary object Metaphor Regulation Privacy Security |
| title | VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) |
| title_full | VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) |
| title_fullStr | VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) |
| title_full_unstemmed | VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) |
| title_short | VPNs as boundary objects of the internet: (mis)trust in the translation(s) |
| title_sort | vpns as boundary objects of the internet mis trust in the translation s |
| topic | Boundary object Metaphor Regulation Privacy Security |
| url | https://policyreview.info/node/1513 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lukeheemsbergen vpnsasboundaryobjectsoftheinternetmistrustinthetranslations AT adammolnar vpnsasboundaryobjectsoftheinternetmistrustinthetranslations |