The creator of the web calls for reforming the Internet in favor of people, not corporations.
In light of the 35th anniversary of the World Wide Web, its founder Timothy Berners-Lee shared his thoughts on how the global network has evolved and what challenges it faces today.
35 years ago, in 1989, the global Hypertext Document System project was released. At the beginning of its journey, the Internet was conceived as a tool for "collaboration, foster compassion and generate creativity" (collaboration, foster compassion and generate creativity 3C), offering a decentralized environment with a wide range of content. However, the last decade has brought significant changes, concentrating power in the hands of a few large corporations and leading to a deepening of problems related to data privacy and information manipulation.
The problems became particularly acute with the development of artificial intelligence technologies, which exacerbated the existing challenges, emphasizing the need to reform the existing system and create a new one that will serve the "best interests of humanity". Platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon support community building without maliciously harnessing users attention, while GitHub and podcasts promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
An important initiative aimed at regaining control over personal data is the Solid protocol, which allows each person to manage their data through a personal online data store (POD). An example of this approach is Flanders (a region in northern Belgium), where each citizen is provided with their own POD.
Finally, the founder of the Internet calls for active support for reforming the structure of the existing network from researchers, inventors and activists. Only collective efforts can resist the dominance of financial interests and build a new, "human-oriented" network that meets the needs of society. The Web Foundation, of which Berners-Lee is a co-founder, will continue to support this transition, but significant progress will require the efforts of the entire global community.
In light of the 35th anniversary of the World Wide Web, its founder Timothy Berners-Lee shared his thoughts on how the global network has evolved and what challenges it faces today.
35 years ago, in 1989, the global Hypertext Document System project was released. At the beginning of its journey, the Internet was conceived as a tool for "collaboration, foster compassion and generate creativity" (collaboration, foster compassion and generate creativity 3C), offering a decentralized environment with a wide range of content. However, the last decade has brought significant changes, concentrating power in the hands of a few large corporations and leading to a deepening of problems related to data privacy and information manipulation.
The problems became particularly acute with the development of artificial intelligence technologies, which exacerbated the existing challenges, emphasizing the need to reform the existing system and create a new one that will serve the "best interests of humanity". Platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon support community building without maliciously harnessing users attention, while GitHub and podcasts promote collaboration and knowledge sharing.
An important initiative aimed at regaining control over personal data is the Solid protocol, which allows each person to manage their data through a personal online data store (POD). An example of this approach is Flanders (a region in northern Belgium), where each citizen is provided with their own POD.
Finally, the founder of the Internet calls for active support for reforming the structure of the existing network from researchers, inventors and activists. Only collective efforts can resist the dominance of financial interests and build a new, "human-oriented" network that meets the needs of society. The Web Foundation, of which Berners-Lee is a co-founder, will continue to support this transition, but significant progress will require the efforts of the entire global community.
