Should we be worried about the Internet?

Last Sunday, the world wide web had its twenty-eighth birthday. On March 12th 1989, an English computer scientist called Sir Tim Berners-Lee submitted his original proposal for “an open platform that would allow everyone, everywhere to share information, access opportunities and collaborate across geographic and cultural boundaries”. That platform, of course, became the Internet.

According to some of the latest statistics, more than 3.75 billion people around the world – 50% of the total population – are now able to search, share, tweet, stream and shop their way to monumental volumes of information, consumable goods and entertainment. The web has created new trends, new languages, new access points to vital services, new business models, and new ways for us to interact with one another. In its purest form, the Internet has the power to remove boundaries and truly empower people. It has also, somehow, made cat videos one of our most popular sources of amusement.

But, as with so much in life, there’s a flip side. Nearly three decades on, the web’s creator has published an open letter to share his worries about some of the more recent developments in our online world. I won’t repeat everything he said, as the letter is available to read on the Web Foundation’s website.

However, in summary, there are three trends that he says must be addressed if the Internet is to fulfil its original vision of being “an equalising platform that benefits all of humanity”. They are all related to the proliferation and use of our personal data, which I wrote about a few weeks ago.

1. Control. There are two main points here. Firstly, most of us don’t realise exactly who holds data about us, or know how to take control of it. Secondly, there is the thorny issue of data privacy versus government surveillance.
2. Misinformation. Or the scourge of fake news. We all know that sensationalist headlines, fed by our personal data, are being designed to shock us into clicking through to fabricated news stories – and then (the creators hope) sharing them further. What’s problematic is the potential that fake news has to go viral.
3. Political advertising. This has become much more sophisticated as online technologies have developed and – again based on personal data – campaigns can now be built and targeted directly at individuals. How do we get to the bottom of what a party or politician is really promising if we have only seen one of the thousands of variations of their story?

I agree that the issues Sir Tim has highlighted are worrying, and need to be tackled. So it’s reassuring to know that he and others like him continue the good work to advance and protect the Internet for everyone. But he makes a valid point: it’s up to all of us to build the web we want.

The telecoms industry can play a key role here, for example by ensuring the protection of its customers’ data. And not only their personal information like addresses and bank details, but also, and perhaps more significantly, the abundance of data offered up by their connected devices about where they go and what they do. Another important activity is working with the relevant authorities and trusted partners to make sure that any shared content is truthful, and that criminal, false or harmful content is blocked wherever necessary.

It’s almost impossible now to imagine (or remember) a world without the Internet in it. Just try for a minute to picture your life with no status updates, no search engines and no TV shows at your fingertips. How would you go about getting travel directions, a late-night pizza… or see things like this Professor’s children videobombing his live news interview?

On a more serious note, the digital world that web technology brought to life has opened doors where they didn’t exist before, boosting economies and businesses, enabling vulnerable people to stay connected with society, and giving a voice to the disadvantaged and repressed.

At heart, despite the issues that surround us, I believe in the world wide web as a force for good; something that is about equality, democracy and opportunity. And I want it to continue in line with Sir Tim Berners-Lee’s original vision.

So, it's a little late but #HappyBirthdayWWW. Here's to many more.

Photo credit: Dennis Skley