KEY EVENTS On November 27, 2020, Chloe Bynoe, a Gen Z content creator, discussed what security means to her at the 2020 CASIS West Coast Security Conference. The key points discussed were the issues that are considered important by Gen Z, the importance of security, and the importance of critical and ethical decision making. NATURE OF DISCUSSION Presentation Ms. Bynoe raised the issues women have in society, the fear of objectification and lack of autonomy, the security issues that concern Gen Z, and the importance of ethical and critical decision making. Ms. Bynoe also presented on the online environment and the pressures of conformity and offline social interactions. BACKGROUND Presentation Ms. Bynoe presented on the importance of critical and ethical judgement and decision making with online content, whether it concerns consulting research or social interactions. The internet aids in constructing a credible and balanced opinion based upon research and reflection of credible sources of information. Since COVID-19 began, work, social interactions, and entertainment have transitioned into an online environment, forcing many to learn new skills and methods to bond with others. For some people, social interactions are considered easier online; individuals are more likely to discover common interests, bonds with others, entertain themselves, or seek happiness away from abusive households or hardships in the offline environment. The issues of conformity to impress others or the difficulty in discovering common interests are eliminated in the online environment. WHAT SECURITY MEANS TO ME Date: November 27th, 2020 Disclaimer: This briefing note contains the encapsulation of views presented by the speaker and does not exclusively represent the views of the Canadian Association for Security and Intelligence Studies. Chloe Bynoe Page 71 The Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare Ms. Bynoe also discussed the issues Gen Z encounter, specifically racial and gender discrimination, ethical and critical decisions, and prejudice against LGBTQ+ communities. Individuals from the LGBTQ+ communities are considered subhuman and are unable to truly express themselves despite an increase in media representation. Individuals should be free to discover and express themselves even if their identity is a minority in society. Racial injustice and discrimination are still prevalent issues in society despite the changes implemented since the abolition of slavery. Race is simply an aspect of an individual, which should not be the base of judgments. Gen Zs are more inclined to make ethical and critical decisions when consulting entertainment, following creators, or supporting companies. Gen Zs are critical of their actions and are inclined not to support companies or creators that endorse or have endorsed practices that are considered unethical. The Gen Zs are critical of morals and are mindful of what they represent. Ms. Bynoe talked about women’s concerns with security, autonomy, and discrimination. Women are objectified; they worry for their own security and safety, and have their autonomy challenged daily. For example, rights to abortion are constantly being challenged along with a woman’s autonomy of their own body. Challenges to abortion rights is a concerning security threat as rape victims, especially child victims, may be forced to give birth and risk their lives. Women should control the rights over their lives, their bodies, their own security, and their own autonomy. KEY POINTS OF DISCUSSION Presentation • The Gen Zs are critical of what they consult or support as they are mindful of morals, ethics, and representation. • The internet allows the formation of bonds between individuals or entertainment, allowing them to escape abusive households or hardships in the offline environment. • Gen Zs believe racial, gender, and LGBTQ+ injustice and discrimination are still prevalent issues, and individuals should be permitted to freely discover and express themselves. • Women are constantly worrying about their own safety and security. • Women should be able to take control over their rights with respect to their security, bodies, and autonomy. Chloe Bynoe Page 72 The Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. © (Chloe Bynoe, 2021) Published by the Journal of Intelligence, Conflict, and Warfare and Simon Fraser University Available from: https://jicw.org/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ https://jicw.org/