11. Access Gatekeeper*

This chapter critically examines the ‘firewall’ metaphor in network security discourse, challenging its effectiveness and accuracy. Employing similarity theory and the salience imbalance hypothesis, the firewall metaphor is shown to emphasise danger prevention and to obscure sociopolitical aspects of the technology, such as the power relations at work in its filtering and monitoring functions. Discourse from two major firewall vendors is analysed to show how the metaphor plays a role in stifling critical discussion about network security, constraining a comprehensive understanding of ‘firewall’ technology’s societal implications. Access gatekeeper is proposed as a way of encouraging a more nuanced dialogue and ethical consideration of network security technologies.