There is a national security imperative in not only making sure social media platforms are regulated, but that they are done so properly in a way that enhances, rather than thwarts, the free and open discourse that our democracy relies on.
For some time, trust in U.S. democratic institutions has been declining. There is an immediate need to rebuild and sustain public confidence in democracy and in U.S. national security institutions, and that starts by elevating civic education as a national security imperative.
Since the launch of Sputnik during the Cold War, the United States has prioritized STEM education in an effort to grow and maintain a competitive edge — often at the expense of civic education. However, U.S. national security also depends on Americans’ understanding of and commitment to our democratic institutions.
The last time a U.S. President invoked the Insurrection Act was in response to the 1992 L.A. Riots. This vignette highlights how federal forces were mobilized to address the unrest in L.A.
This past summer, federal forces were deployed to D.C. in response to protests addressing racial injustice. This vignette explains some of the unique features of the D.C. deployments, and highlights key considerations about the laws and norms that guide domestic federal force deployments.
We should stop talking about cybersecurity, not because “cyber issues” are over-hyped, but because the challenges and constantly evolving threat landscape involving cyber are so complex, and we cannot afford to continue operating under an already overextended definition.