20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
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Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#2I agree with the message in principle and in spirit, but in order to have an open and free internet we've seen that government involvement is fairly necessary. Net neutrality laws and their enforcement are paramount in order to prevent monopolization of content and information, and government cooperation is necessary in order to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver the internet to people's homes.
"You are not welcome among us" sends the wrong message, I think. I would rather they embraced a free and open internet, and were convinced of the value of keeping it so.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#3Wonder who's gonna write this for the Blockchain.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#4I agree with the message in principle and in spirit, but in order to have an open and free internet we've seen that government involvement is fairly necessary. Net neutrality laws and their enforcement are paramount in order to prevent monopolization of content and information, and government cooperation is necessary in order to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver the internet to people's homes. "You are no…
Well, I think we all recognize now that the original message was a bit, ah, naive. But that's okay! Missions change with the time and as we learn.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#5The message is probably one we can all get behind in principle.
However, the internet has a real, physical infrastructure that is definitely owned and operated by behemoth organizations like governments and private corporations. In fact, the Internet was created by a government. What makes you think they'd give it up willingly?
If you want to create your own internet, you certainly can. But even if you find the monetary resources to do so, you'll need to house and operate the telecommunications equipment somewhere on Earth (or in LEO). And if you want to protect that equipment from hostile takeover, then you'll need some form of recognized sovereignty including a real military capable of defending your castle.
Cyberspace cannot (yet) escape the real bounds of physical reality. It seems as though some people think of it as a superset of the world, while it very much is still a subset dependent on its corporeal parent.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#6I agree with the message in principle and in spirit, but in order to have an open and free internet we've seen that government involvement is fairly necessary. Net neutrality laws and their enforcement are paramount in order to prevent monopolization of content and information, and government cooperation is necessary in order to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver the internet to people's homes. "You are no…
The issue of net neutrality sits on the boarder of cyber and meatspace. Governments are involved because we are talking about the quality of Internet service a particular physical locations. It could become a moot point if global wireless became a reality.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#7I agree with the message in principle and in spirit, but in order to have an open and free internet we've seen that government involvement is fairly necessary. Net neutrality laws and their enforcement are paramount in order to prevent monopolization of content and information, and government cooperation is necessary in order to build the infrastructure necessary to deliver the internet to people's homes. "You are no…
Well, I think we all recognize now that the original message was a bit, ah, naive. But that's okay! Missions change with the time and as we learn.
When you declare what "we all recognize" you are bound to be wrong. I still fully agree with the original naive statement as it was written.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#8Well, that didn't work out.
Back in the 1930s, there was a similar enthusiasm about air travel. Watch H. G. Wells "Things to Come".[1] "Wings over the World", indeed.
There was a repeat of this in the Space Age, ("We came in peace for all mankind") but that didn't last long.
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#9John Perry Barlow is recovering from a stroke.
Here is at San Francisco's Ocean Beach: https://twitter.com/JPBarlow/status/692198084265254914
Re: 20 Years Since John Perry Barlow Declared Cyberspace Independence
#10The message is probably one we can all get behind in principle. However, the internet has a real, physical infrastructure that is definitely owned and operated by behemoth organizations like governments and private corporations. In fact, the Internet was created by a government. What makes you think they'd give it up willingly? If you want to create your own internet, you certainly can. But even if you find the monet…
Think very long distance wireless. It has yet to be invented but I believe one day it will be possible to communicate point-to-point across the globe with low power devices at high bandwidths. Such a technology would make these arguments moot. Certainly we have to be practical about our present situation but the broader idea of cyberspace is not limited to current technology. In 1996 moderates would have laugh if you suggested today's technology would become common place.