B2B2-Chapter-4

Introduction

• Title: Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion

• Authors: Hal Abelson, Ken Ledeen, Harry Lewis, Wendy Seltzer

• Subjects: The interplay between digital technology and personal freedoms.

Chapter 4: Gatekeepers

Who Controls the Flow of Bits?

• Case Study: Telus Strike and Internet Access

  • Telus, a major Canadian telecom, blocked access to sites discussing union strikes for its subscribers.

  • Shows the issue of control over Internet accessibility by corporations.

  • Telus justified the block by citing the need for employee safety during a strike.

The Idea of an Open Internet

• The original vision for the Internet was as an unowned medium for free communication.

• Paralleled to the concept of the "luminiferous ether"—an invisible medium for communication.

• Reality deviates from this ideal; control has become centralized among a few corporations and governments.

Examples of Control and Censorship

• Alex Jones and His Ban

  • Jones, a controversial figure, was banned from multiple platforms despite once having large followings.

• Internet in China

  • Government censorship prevents discussions, such as the Tiananmen Square incident, from being shared.

• Hasan Minhaj's Show Censored in Saudi Arabia

  • Netflix removes episodes due to governmental pressure for maintaining business.

Issues with Information Access

• Digital Inequality: Access to high-speed Internet varies drastically—examples include the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Browning, Montana, where only 0.1% have high-speed Internet compared to urban areas.

• Internet is treated as a resource that is not equally accessible to all, highlighting the importance of government involvement in ensuring equitable access.

Types of Gatekeepers

1. Links Gatekeepers

• Definition: Organizations that control the physical infrastructure (cables, servers) that transmit data.

• Influence and capacity to censor or prioritize content based on their policies.

2. Search Gatekeepers

• Google as the Dominant Search Engine

  • Captures over 90% of market share; deeply influences what information is accessible.

  • Claims of neutrality, but algorithms favor advertisers, raising ethical concerns regarding visibility and access to information.

3. Social Gatekeepers

• Role of Companies like Facebook

  • Control over user data, privacy policies, and what content is disseminated.

  • Facebook as an example of rapidly evolving network effects, growing user base despite criticisms.

• User Privacy: Concerns regarding the extent of data collection and sharing with third parties, potentially jeopardizing user privacy without their full understanding.

Conclusion: The Evolution of Internet Control

• The Internet, originally designed as a decentralized, open platform, has increasingly been consolidated into a system with few gatekeepers.

• Key Concerns and Future Questions:

  • Should Internet access be regulated and viewed as a public utility?

  • How do society and government approach the balance of freedom and safety in terms of speech and expression on social media platforms?

  • Discussion on whether entities like Google and Facebook should be broken up or more tightly regulated to ensure they serve public interests.