Is The Internet Splintering?

In its early years, proponents of the internet heralded its ability to transcend national borders, equalize access to information, and even promote democracy. Many predicted that any attempt to regulate freedom of speech on the internet would fail. Now, governments the world over are pursuing vastly different regulatory frameworks, and the dream of a single, free internet is fading. In the United States, freedom of speech and a laissez-faire approach have led to enormous success for companies such as Apple, Google, and Amazon. At the same time, many analysts say, the U.S. internet is rife with misinformation, toxic content, and “surveillance capitalism.” In China, the Great Firewall and an army of content moderators have successfully brought the digital realm under control of the Chinese Communist Party. And in Europe, regulators have had surprising success implementing protections for data privacy and the “right to be forgotten.” Will one model eventually win out? And if not, what will a balkanized digital world mean? This episode was originally released by Why It Matters on December 7, 2022. Find us The Three Internets- https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/three-internets Why It Matters - https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/why-it-matters Apple Podcasts - https://apple.co/39tmKmi Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3ACtkTq Google Podcasts - https://bit.ly/2W5Ef94 Host Gabrielle Sierra Podcast Host and Senior Producer Episode Guests Anu Bradford Henry L. Moses Professor of Law and International Organization, Columbia Law School Adam Segal Ira A. Lipman Chair in Emerging Technologies and National Security and Director of the Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program Tarah Wheeler Senior Fellow for Global Cyber Policy Related Episodes Quantum Leap- https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/quantum-leap When the Microchips Are Down- https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/when-microchips-are-down Subscribe to our channel: https://goo.gl/WCYsH7 The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is an independent, nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher. Visit the CFR website: http://www.cfr.org Follow CFR on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/cfr_org Follow CFR on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councilonforeignrelations/