The FATF as a model for Internet governance

To date, traditional diplomatic instruments and structures have only been marginally effective in combating cybersecurity risks. Perhaps it is time to use a model that has been effective in another challenging international arena, money laundering. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which started as an effort among the economic leaders in the world, uses an intergovernmental policy group to build political will to counter a network threat. With its best practices, regional subgroups, and threat of blacklisting, it is effective in bringing pressure to bear on recalcitrant nations. A FATF style cyber security body offers a means to improve the global governance regime for the Internet by leveraging the will of interested governments. This paper offers an outline of how the FATF model could be applied to the Internet, and thereby improve governance and security.