The future of the Internet

Abstract

The internet is not perfect, as nothing else is. Some may see this as a cause to restructure the internet in order to respond to the many problems that arise mostly from giving the freedom to create to every person with a terminal. Should data creation be restricted by a system of checks and balances? Should DRM be slapped onto any file as soon as it is sensed by a computer? Should privacy be invaded for the sake of security? All are valid questions in response to a virtual world riddled with ignorant and irresponsible users.

However, how much could a restructuring fix? A restructuring will change the nature of the internet, but as is with everything new there will be a whole set of problems that come with it. A restructuring of the internet will do nothing to solve the current problem posed by generativity because the problems are not caused by the internet, they are caused by people. A restructuring of the internet would not put users out of the equation so the most important thing to do in order to make the internet sustainable is to educate users on the differences between malicious and benign software.