Capacity Building and Cyber Insecurity in Latin America

Abstract

Abstract Several Latin American countries are considered among the most connected states in the Global South. However, with this connectivity comes questions about surveillance, information security, and the impact of mis- and disinformation on democratic political systems. This chapter approaches the discussion of cyber insecurity on a regional level, noting the transnational nature of many major threats in the region. These include the spread of mis- and disinformation about COVID-19 and electoral politics, the use of spyware against human rights defenders, and the increased deployment of surveillance technologies for border security. Primary takeaways from the discussion are that states in the region have proven poor guarantors of cybersecurity, that cyber capacity-building efforts (especially from the US and China) have exacerbated security issues in the region, and that the environment of risk is further shaped by considerations of race/ethnicity, gender, and class.