Brad Burnham Jun 10, 2010 "Once you start thinking about large web platforms as governments, the logical question is what kind of government are they. One thing is for sure - none of these platforms are democracies. They are oligarchies controlled by founders, investors or shareholders. That may not be at all bad. As long as citizens (users) can move freely from one government to another with little switching cost, there is no reason to burden these polities with the inherent inefficiencies of popular democracy. But that does put a special premium on emigration policies and property rights. Do I own my data, can I export it freely? It also suggests that large networks that have strong network effects may someday need other incentives to act in the best interests of their citizens."
"In the end, the big networks on the web will all have to find a balance between state power and private initiative."
Prepared by Michael Marien, August 2013
The Quest for Security: Protection Without Protectionism and the Challenge of Global Governance. Edited by Joseph E. Stiglitz (University Prof and co-chair, Committee on Global Thought, Columbia U) and Mary Kaldor (Prof of Global Governance and director, Human Security Research Unit, London School of Economics). NY: Columbia U Press, April 2013, 412p, $39.50.
"The grandfather of the Internet" Louis Pouzin backs the alternative DNS movement, with Open Root which wants to break ICANN's monopoly on top level domains
Guardian A new report wants to foster a digital age underpinned by human rights and calls for greater transparency from global giants. But will we ever trust the internet?
Julia Powles: "The report [from Chatham House etc. ] pushes what it calls a “social compact” – an invented term, not the philosophical concept of old. It reflects the frightening prospect that the new age bonds of society are not between citizens and states, but between citizens (likely, in the imagining of its proponents, to be self-employed cheap workers of the “sharing economy” and other fabricated markets) and a nebulous “community” of “stakeholders”. "
"The Federal Communications Commission is expected on Thursday to
approve regulating Internet service like a public utility....".
"The F.C.C. plan would let the agency regulate Internet access as if
it is a public good."
Submitted by Secretariat on Tue, 12/23/2014 - 16:52 Today the NETmundial Initiative announced the members of its Inaugural Coordination Council and outlined next steps in the process. The announcement follows a series of open dialogues and consultations across all sectors of the global community that have helped inform and shape the way forward.