World Wide Web founder Tim Berners-Lee warns internet’s power for good is ‘under threat’
Tim Berners-Lee warns
internet’s power for good is ‘under threat’
Sir Tim Berners-Lee
World Wide Web
founder Sir Tim Berners-Lee has warned that the internet’s power for good is
being “subverted” by those spreading hatred and threatening democracy, as the
technology marked its 50th birthday.
Sir Tim urged
governments, campaign groups and individuals to back a new plan from his
foundation to make the internet safe, fair and accessible to all.
The computer
scientist spoke out on the 50th anniversary of the University of California,
Los Angeles (UCLA) professor Len Kleinrock sending the first message on the
Arpanet network of computers, which would eventually become the internet.
Twenty years later, Sir Tim created the
World Wide Web – first proposed as an information management system while he
was working for the European Organisation for Nuclear Research (Cern) – which
led to the mainstream establishment of the technology.
“It’s astonishing to think the internet
is already half a century old. But its birthday is not altogether a happy one,”
he said.
“The internet –
and the World Wide Web it enabled – have changed our lives for the better and
have the power to transform millions more in the future. But increasingly we’re
seeing that power for good being subverted, whether by scammers, people
spreading hatred or vested interests threatening democracy.”
He confirmed
that the Web Foundation, the group he founded to campaign for the open web as a
public good and basic right, would publish its Contract for the Web next month
– a collection of pledges aimed at all areas of society and their commitment to
protecting the web in the future.
“A year ago, I
called for a new Contract for the Web, bringing together governments, companies
and citizen groups to come up with a clear plan of action to protect the web as
a force for good,” he said.
“In a month’s
time that plan will be ready. This birthday must mark the moment we take on the
fight for the web we want.”
The Foundation
has not confirmed the date it would publish the contract, but lists some of its
principles on its website, which includes a pledge by governments to ensure
everyone can connect to the internet and respect people’s fundamental right to
privacy.
It also asks
individuals to pledge to be creators and collaborators online and build strong
communities which respect civil discourse.
Comments
Post a Comment