Internet

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The Internet
Abstract
In a historical perspective, since its introduction for public use in the 1990s, the Internet has established itself as a principal medium of communication and creating awareness. Its independence from government control makes it an effective tool for political activism and advocacy. The popular belief is that the internet is for everyone. However, time and again, the Internet has faces threats of censorship from various governments around the world. For example, various states like the People’s Republic of China have extensively attained a degree of regulatory power over their citizens’ Internet usage. Consequently, this has created fears that one day this powerful resource will fall into the hands of government control. It is, therefore, our reconcilability to ensure that this will not happen. In short, this paper tackles the particulars of the issues by painting a brief background of the origin of the Internet while highlighting the degree to which the power of the Internet extends. Additionally, this only serves to enhance the fight against governments taking over control of the Internet.
Keywords: Internet, Control, Democracy, Information, Communication, Internet, freedom, and politics
The Internet
The part played by the Internet, in cultivating and supporting a just society cannot be doubted. The Internet assumes a hegemonic capacity in our lives. More so, a drastic change in our way of life has been witnessed in the last several decades majorly due to the revolution of the internet.

Today, the popularity and interactivity the Internet and World Wide Web have to offer have restructured all aspects of communications entirely. Furthermore, from its invention, the World Wide Web has consistently been the site of hegemonic struggles for justice and power between governments, corporations, and citizens. In this light, the internet should remain an open ground where anyone can make their voices heard. The Internet is for everyone. No government can claim ownership of the internet which means no one has the right to regulate this platform. It is, therefore, the role of us as citizens of the globe to commit ourselves towards protecting the internet from any negative external control. The Internet is so big and so powerful in that it cannot be owned by a single entity.
To begin with, an understanding of what is the Internet and who invented it needs to be laid down. This has always been a not so comfortable question because the answer has always been constantly evolving, as the Internet has been. Nonetheless, the most canonical answer to the question of what is the internet will have us begin from the 1950 invention, the “Packet Transfer Technology.” First and foremost, the Internet is a collection of technical protocols that allows different computers on different platforms to communicate with each other. The fundamental technology that allows this interexchange possible is the above-mentioned “Packet Transfer Technology.” According to the above Protocol, along with the “Transport Control Protocol” – simply called TCP/IP, each computer that is linked to the World Wide Web is allocated an IP address. Additionally, the IP address is used to route information to and from various other computers once that information has been packaged into “packets” (Gromov 2).
Indeed, it is hard to name any one person for the progress and the development of the Internet. The Internet first appeared as a simple form that was only available to the department of defense. It was made entirely available to the public in the 1990s. However, if we must extensively mention a few individuals, then we begin by expressing that the internet was a collective idea of a number of people in an interdisciplinary effort. Most notable ones incorporate Vannevar Bush and Paul Otlet, among others (Gromov 1). In short, these are just various individuals who are the key pioneer whose contributions stretched across a huge part of the 21st century and were tremendously impacting in the development of the internet.
Since time in memorial, the media have been known to be a darling and a foe to governments and the political elite. It has been used to make and break governments, and it is for this reason that governments have always tended to manipulate and regulate the media to their advantage. Luckily the introduction of the Internet turned the tables of communication and mass media. While national boundaries and other limits that restricted media and activism alike have not vanished; they have been compromised by the apparent advancement of the Internet. In a world under the Microscope of the Internet, human rights have improved drastically. Governments and politicians are much more careful in their dealings to avoid public criticism fueled by the Internet. The public opinion is very much more valued today that one century ago. Democracy demands active civic contribution. In an ideal democracy, the Internet guarantees public participation in issues of governance by advising, instructing and empowerment of the public. In many democracies, the Internet has significantly influenced decision making. Also, it has been an influential apparatus for progressing developing democracies through by providing a viable alternative source of information. With regards to its ease of use, its cost friendliness, and its autonomy/independence from political manipulation, the internet can be a good cultivator of democracy (Castells 4). This only accentuates the importance of keeping the Internet a free ground.
The Internet has also established itself as a catalyst of globalization since its inception. Worldwide media such as the email and social media platforms have assumed a noteworthy part in transforming the world into a global village. History has taught us that when the power of a given communication media is firmly fixed to a specific party, that power can be utilized as an instrument for selfish-advancements, and establishing foundations of control and power. It is entirely in this regard that a powerful tool such as the internet ought to be kept free of any control (Schroeder 16).
Moreover, the power of the Internet in deriving foreign policies cannot be ignored. By way of an example, an activist movement against landmines utilized the internet to pressure the concerned states to sign a treaty against landmines. By 1992, fatalities caused by landmines were among the leading causes of deaths among civilians. As a solution, a new global initiative to prohibit Landmines which involved the signing of the abiding treaty was proposed. At first, of the major countries, none agreed to the initiative. Nonetheless, an Internet-based grassroots initiative stated to raise public awareness on the issue prompted the signing of the treaty by an excess of 140 nations. Jody Williams was honored with the 1997 Nobel Prize for playing a key role in this achievement (Chanan 2). If the Internet were regulated, Williams and Co would not have achieved this fate.
As a closing remark, a discussion about the Internet cannot be concluded without mentioning the phrase, “Information is power.” Almost everyone has come across this expression, but only a few understand and appreciate its complete or true meaning. To break it down, we can look at it this way: In a technologically and a politically advanced world of today, through the Internet and the mass media in general, we are empowered with an infinite stream of information. From a consumer’s perspective, it is unquestionable that the internet assumes an essential part of impacting social justice, our lifestyles, our economy and our basic view of the world. Utilized well, the Internet provides a platform for people to fight for their rights, trade thought, identity with, prepare for a cause, look for counsel, and offer direction. The Internet has eliminated correspondence barriers and established a decentralized communication channel whereas opening a path for all to have a voice and take an interest in global matters. If we give up its control, we will lose this power.
Works Cited
Castells, Manuel. Networks of outrage and hope: Social movements in the Internet Age. John Wiley & Sons, 2015.Print
Gromov, Gregory R. “History of Internet and WWW: The Roads and Crossroads of Internet History.” Excerpt from the published report. Internet Valley Website, 2012.http://www. Internet valley. com/invar. (2012).
Naveh, Chanan. “The Role of the Media in Foreign Policy Decision-Making: A Theoretical Framework.” Conflict & Communication. Page 1-2 (2013). Print
Schroeder, Ralph. Social Theory after the Internet: Media, Technology, and Globalization. UCL Press, 2018. Print