Twenty-five years ago today, I filed the proposal for what was to become the World Wide Web.
My boss dubbed it ‘vague but exciting’. Luckily, he thought enough of the idea to allow me to quietly work on it on the side.
In the following quarter-century, the Web has changed the world in ways that I never could have imagined. There have been many exciting advances. It has generated billions of dollars in economic growth, turned data into the gold of the 21st century, unleashed innovation in education and healthcare, whittled away geographic and social boundaries, revolutionised the media, and forced a reinvention of politics in many countries by enabling constant two-way dialogue between the rulers and the ruled.
There are a few principles which allowed the web, as a platform, to support such growth. By design, the Web is universal, royalty-free, open and decentralised. Thousands of people worked together to build the early Web in an amazing, non-national spirit of collaboration; tens of thousands more invented the applications and services that make it so useful to us today, and there is still room for each one of us to create new things on and through the Web. This is for everyone.
Today, and throughout this year, we should celebrate the Web’s first 25 years. But though the mood is upbeat, we also know we are not done. We have much to do for the Web to reach its full potential. We must continue to defend its core principles and tackle some key challenges. To name just three:
- How do we connect the nearly two-thirds of the planet who can’t yet access the Web?
- Who has the right to collect and use our personal data, for what purpose and under what rules?
- How do we create a high-performance open architecture that will run on any device, rather than fall back into proprietary alternatives?
There are no easy answers to these, and many other questions. Remember though that the Web was built by all of us, and so we all can, and should, play a role in defining its future.
The Latest on: Internet Freedom
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Internet Freedom” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Internet Freedom
- South Africa marks 30 years of freedom amid inequality, poverty and a tense election aheadon April 26, 2024 at 11:31 pm
But this Freedom Day holiday marking that day fell amid a poignant backdrop: Analysts and polls predict that the waning popularity of the party once led by Nelson Mandela is likely to see it lose its ...
- Net Neutrality Is Back. The Internet Has Been Fine Without It.on April 26, 2024 at 11:46 am
Specifically, the regulators are acting to “re-institute…rules that prohibit blocking, throttling, or engaging in paid or affiliated prioritization arrangements.” Alas, such activities may be either ...
- Crypto Freedom and Blockchain Association Alliance Sue the SEC Over Recent Finalized Dealer Ruleon April 25, 2024 at 5:59 pm
This shift has been met with criticism and concern from various sectors of the financial industry, particularly the crypto assets market.
- After 6 years, the FCC has voted to restore net neutrality regulations in a win for the open interneton April 25, 2024 at 5:08 pm
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plans to vote to restore net neutrality later this month. With the Democrats finally holding an FCC majority in the final year of President Biden’s first ...
- FCC To Regulate Internet Providers, Bring Back Net Neutralityon April 25, 2024 at 4:53 pm
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to reinstate rules aimed at regulating internet providers in the United States, effectively bringing ...
- The FCC restores net neutrality - here's what it means for the interneton April 25, 2024 at 2:37 pm
The FCC voted 3-2 to reinstate rules ensuring equal treatment for all internet traffic, but that doesn't mean the issue is settled.
- Net neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providerson April 25, 2024 at 11:20 am
The FCC on Thursday restored rules to prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and AT&T from favoring some sites and apps over others — for instance, by slowing or ...
- Pakistan: JSFM holds rally for Sindh's freedom on Sain GM Syed's death anniversaryon April 25, 2024 at 11:07 am
To mark the 29th death anniversary of the revered father of the Sindhi nation and freedom leader, Sain GM Syed, the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) orchestrated a massive rally in Sann town, Sindh ...
- Delaware settles lawsuit with inmate who threatened a protest over high internet feeson April 25, 2024 at 2:18 am
A Delaware prisoner tried to organize a boycott of internet services in prison. He sued the Department of Correction.
- Internet service needs the marketplace, not heavy-handed net neutrality regulationon April 25, 2024 at 2:00 am
The FCC should not reinstate net neutrality because it will be a drag on better service and lower prices, the author argues.
via Bing News
