⏩Fast Forward Aotearoa #13: The internet and its future governance

Get ready for the Splinternet

Beginning our survey of General Purpose Technologies (GPTs) discussed in ⏩Fast Forward Aotearoa #12, starting with looking at the mighty internet itself, what it is, how it is developing and the directions it could evolve from here.

Growth of the internet (so far)

Arguably the “internet”¹ — the ubiquitous global network-of-networks which carries nearly all of the world’s communications today — is the most significant technological development in the history of humanity. In 2022, much of the planet’s population is now profoundly dependent upon the internet’s continued functioning for economic and social prosperity.

Looking back, it’s amazing how rapidly the internet grew from its obscure beginnings in the 1970s military / academic ARPANET to become omnipresent in our lives. Most profoundly, many people in their 20s today have never experienced life without the internet, whereas there is a still a minority who remain disconnected.

The global network of internet connections has grown massivel…