On Thursday, the Pentagon released their long-awaited cybersecurity plan that declares the Internet as a "domain of war" and emphasizes the importance of ramping up cybersecurity to protect our military and the country itself from future cyberattacks. As stated in the report, the U.S. military uses cyberspace for everything from carrying out military operations to sharing intelligence data internally to managing personnel assignments. However, the reliance on cyberspace "stands in stark contrast to the inadequacy of our cybersecurity". The Pentagon’s plan is focused on protecting against three areas: the theft or exploitation of data, attempts to deny or disrupt access to U.S. military networks, and any attempts to destroy or degrade networks of connected systems.

While the Department of Defense is working to secure cyberspace for the military, the administration is also working with other countries to promote Internet freedoms. Most recently, Iran has announced their plans to disconnect the Iranian Internet from the rest of the world. In contrast, the United States has staked out a position of leadership to ensure freedom of expression and open communication channels are preserved around the world. The Internet is a powerful, productive tool for innovation and expression because it allows information and ideas to flow freely. As countries attempt to shut down the Internet or block connections, it is imperative to develop foreign policy that accounts for the World Wide Web.