Open-source software (OSS) is key to much of the technology that powers modern life, making it a critical area of interest for cybersecurity policy. However, OSS governance demands creative thinking – though OSS is about as secure as commercial software, it can be difficult to govern through “traditional” regulatory measures. Rules that rely on firm structures for liability, accountability, and enforcement are a poor fit for the decentralized, volunteer-driven nature of OSS and the community that surrounds it. This paper explores how voluntary cybersecurity standards in OSS may offer a practical, ecosystem-specific pathway to strengthening OSS security and presents concrete policy recommendations for U.S. policymakers to support such standards effectively.
Securing the Open Frontier: Voluntary Standards for Open-Source Security • Stimson Center
