The Internet Society (ISOC), an international non-profit organisation dedicated to ensuring the development, evolution and open use of the Internet, today released the first report of its kind to explore the future of the Internet. Entitled "Paths to our Digital Future", the 2017 Global Internet Report examines the Internet over the next five to seven years and identifies the factors that will shape its future. The report uncovers a combination of challenges and opportunities to safeguard the Internet for the next generation and makes recommendations on steps that can be taken today to realise the promise of an Internet for everyone, everywhere.
The 2017 Global Internet Report considers the many forces that are shaping the Internet, from artificial intelligence (AI) and cyber threats, Internet standards and the Internet of Things (IoT), to the Internet economy and the growing involvement of government. It explores how these forces will impact key areas such as digital divides, personal freedoms and rights, as well as media and society. Put together, these forces will change the internet in dramatic ways in the years to come.
Some of the key findings contained in this report:
- Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things change our lives, but could lead to a "surveillance society".
Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things have enormous potential to simplify and improve people's lives, but only if ethical considerations drive the development of the technology and guide its use. Because artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things allow for the collection of vast amounts of personal information, there is a risk that, without safeguards and user control, a "surveillance society" could emerge.
- Growing security concerns could undermine personal freedom and rights
Cybersecurity issues will put pressure on governments to make decisions that could undermine global, open and distributed internet governance. Measures aimed at securing cyberspace may undermine personal rights and freedoms. Without a change of course, online freedoms may be approaching a point of irreversible decline.
- Optimism still reigns
Younger users and those in developing countries are particularly optimistic about the future of the Internet and the possibility of using technology to improve their lives and create their future.
- The nature of the digital divide will change
As the internet transforms every sector of the global economy, the digital divides of the future will not only be about access to the internet, but also about the difference in economic opportunities that will be available to some, but not to others. The link between security and economic prosperity will grow and lead to a potential security divide, separating people or countries that can protect their digital assets from those that cannot.
The report notes that the implementation of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence will transform entire economies and societies in the coming years through automation and the convergence of the physical and virtual worlds. This transformation will change the nature of the digital divide as historically defined (i.e. the divide that exists between those who have access to the internet and those who do not).
While many in the Internet Society's global community agreed that the Internet is facing a period of unprecedented change, they also reaffirmed the core ideas that have shaped the Internet to date.
"Our extensive research clearly shows that, as was the case 25 years ago when the Internet Society was founded, people believe that the core values of the Internet still hold true: that it should be global, open and secure, and used for the benefit of people around the world," said Sally Wentworth, vice president of Global Policy for the Internet Society.
Many of the views expressed in the report illustrate the widespread belief in the potential of the internet to continue to bring about positive change in people's lives. Respondents, especially youth in developing countries, pointed to the growth of new technologies and applications as evidence that the Internet continues to promote innovation, and the benefits that connectivity can bring for education, health, economic prosperity and social change.
However, these hopes and beliefs are countered by widespread fears that there are significant forces at work, which may undermine the promise of the internet for future generations. For example, many believe that internet freedom will continue to diminish around the world due to widespread surveillance, disruptions in its operation and content regulation. Some also believe that the media landscape will become more complex and that the separation of fact from fiction will become more difficult.
Some people are concerned about the threat of new gaps, which will not only deepen existing differences between countries, but also in society as a whole. In particular, the report explores the emergence of a new divide in trust and security, characterised by cyber threats that continue to multiply, and a widening gap between security-conscious users and those who lack the skills, knowledge and resources to protect themselves online.
"We found that people share in equal measure a sense of optimism and disillusionment about the future of the Internet. While there are no guarantees of what lies ahead, we know that humanity must be at the heart of tomorrow's Internet. The Internet must continue to benefit people and create new social and economic possibilities to satisfy the principle on which it was created. We should heed the warnings in this report and begin today to take the steps that will help us keep the Internet working for everyone, everywhere, in the future," Wentworth added.
The report provides key recommendations for businesses, advocacy organisations, governments and other stakeholders to help ensure that the future Internet remains user-centric and continues to work for the benefit of all.
Learn more about the Global Internet Report.
About the Internet Society:
Founded by Internet pioneers, the Internet Society (ISOC) is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to ensuring the development, evolution, and open use of the Internet. Through a global community of Chapters and members, the Internet Society collaborates with a wide variety of groups to promote technologies that keep the Internet safe and secure, and advocates for policies that enable universal access. The Internet Society is also the organisational home of the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF).
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