The Future of the Internet and How to Stop it

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This extraordinary book explains how the Internet has evolved from obscurity to ubiquity, yet is now facing challenges due to its own success. The generative Internet is at risk of a lockdown, which could stifle innovation and enable new forms of control. Devices like iPods, iPhones, Xboxes, and TiVos exemplify the first wave of Internet-centric products that are tightly controlled by their vendors, limiting user modification. These tethered appliances have been exploited in surprising ways, such as car GPS systems being repurposed by law enforcement for surveillance and digital video recorders being forced to self-destruct due to legal actions. While new Web 2.0 platforms like Google mash-ups and Facebook are celebrated, their functionalities can also be monitored and restricted from a central authority. As these tethered devices and applications take precedence over traditional PCs, the Internet's innovative spirit is jeopardized. The current trajectory signals lost opportunities, but the author argues that its revival depends on its millions of users. By leveraging generative technologies like Wikipedia, the book illustrates how to foster new technologies and social frameworks that empower users to engage creatively, collaboratively, and actively as true netizens.