Living in Times of Digital Uncertainty: Are Control and Trust Compatible?

The Cambridge Analytica data misuse is the most recent high-profile incident to impact Internet trust. Trust – or the lack thereof – is the term used to describe much of the current state of the Internet. For years now, we have been hearing about a decline in user trust because of fears of surveillance, cybercrime, data breaches, crack downs on speech, or misuse of their data.

However, recently updated data from a recently released edition of CIGI’s annual survey on Trust seems to shatter commonly-held views on the state of trust and raise some novel questions. While the survey covers a wide range of issues from privacy to e-commerce and online habits, one particular result is rather striking:

Three quarters of respondents (73%) said that they agree with the statement “overall, I trust the Internet.” Last year only 56% said that. The trust was highest in China (91%) and India (90%).

This result appears to contradict the assumption that overall trust in the Internet is diminishing.

If, indeed, there is an overall increase in trust, then the first question we should ask is: what type of trust are we talking about?

• Are we referring to trust with regard to Continue reading

Your online freedoms are under threat – 2017 Freedom on the Net Report

As more people get online everyday, Internet Freedom is facing a global decline for the 7th year in a row.

Today, Freedom House released their 2017 Freedom on the Net report, one of the most comprehensive assessments of countries’ performance regarding online freedoms. The Internet Society is one of the supporters of this report. We think it brings solid and needed evidence-based data in an area that fundamentally impacts user trust.

Looking across 65 countries, the report highlights several worrying trends, including:

• manipulation of social media in democratic processes
• restrictions of virtual private networks (VPNs)
• censoring of mobile connectivity
• attacks against netizens and online journalists

Elections prove to be particular tension points for online freedoms (see also Freedom House’s new Internet Freedom Election Monitor). Beyond the reported trend towards more sophisticated government attempts to control online discussions, the other side of the coin is an increase in restrictions to Internet access, whether through shutting down networks entirely, or blocking specific communication platforms and services.

These Internet shutdowns are at the risk of becoming the new normal. In addition to their impact on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, shutdowns generate severe economic costs, affecting entire economies [1] and Continue reading

Libraries Stand for the Internet’s Future and Join the Call to End Shutdowns

Human development cannot happen without inclusive access to information.

This, along with reading and applying knowledge helps us to make better decisions and to create and innovate.

The Internet has brought this much closer. It is easier to create, communicate, and collaborate than ever before. E-commerce has given us new markets, e-journals are allowing us to learn, and e-health is keeping us fit. 

Libraries have seized the opportunity not only to promote online access to information, but to help their users get the best out of the Internet. The welcoming environment and targeted support that they offer is almost as important as the resources to which they provide access. Libraries are also key to improving levels of digital literacy.

Internet access is a prerequisite for achieving this mission. With information providers from the United Nations to local newspapers cutting back on physical printing, the possibility to get online is more essential than ever. Where connections are unreliable, or do not exist, people may even be in a worse position than before. Because of this, all 196 of the UN’s Member States endorsed giving everyone the possibility of Internet access in the 2030 Agenda.

It is therefore unacceptable that governments Continue reading