How to Save the Net: Keep It Open by Vint Cerf

For all of its history, the Internet has enjoyed the fruits of an openness principle: the idea that anyone can reach any site online and that information and data should be freely exchangeable. Applications such as YouTube and Skype have been introduced without the need to seek permission of any Internet service provider or government. Nearly 3 billion users enjoy myriad mobile apps and other Internet-based services thanks to the open standards, common interfaces, and rich connectivity that permissionless innovation has delivered.

For all of its history, the Internet has enjoyed the fruits of an openness principle: the idea that anyone can reach any site online and that information and data should be freely exchangeable. Applications such as YouTube and Skype have been introduced without the need to seek permission of any Internet service provider or government. Nearly 3 billion users enjoy myriad mobile apps and other Internet-based services thanks to the open standards, common interfaces, and rich connectivity that permissionless innovation has delivered.Today, that premise of openness is at risk — because it threatens the very concept of sovereign national borders that was established in 1648 by the Treaty of Westphalia. In response, more governments are prohibiting access to certain kinds of content, leading to national and regional legislation that may splinter the Internet and interfere with end-to-end connectivity. The Snowden assertions have led countries like Germany and Brazil to propose that all information about their citizens must be confined to physical equipment within their borders. Others, like Iran, want to build isolated “national internets.” China already monitors and controls what information is accessible to its citizens.
http://www.wired.com/2014/08/save-the-net-vinton-cerf/

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