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You are here"Do we need a new Internet?" Eventually of course! Until then we need smart network innovation
Submitted by Scott Cleland on Tue, 2009-02-17 19:01
In asking the important question: "Do we need a new Internet?," John Markoff's article in the New York Times has helped focus the overall Internet debate on the importance of encouraging innovation to better protect Internet users.
It should not be surprising that researchers would be trying to innovate to create a better Internet that is safer and more secure; given that the:
The immediately defensive and negative reaction to Mr. Markoff's reasonable question even being asked -- is highly instructive.
Why are people so threatened by the notion that:
It is absurd on its face to propose there should never be a new Internet. It would be like saying there should be no change to printing after the invention of the Gutenberg press!
Why are many threatened by Mr. Markoff's legitimate question: "Do we need a new Internet?"?
The real reason is that making security more of a priority on the Internet threatens net neutrality political othodoxy.
The most threatening part of Mr. Markoff's question and article to net neutrality orthodoxy was his insight that a more secure Internet "is likely to emerge as new hardware and software are built in to the router computers" that run the Internet at its core.
Bottom line:
It is the height of hypocrisy and irresponsibility for net neutrality proponents to claim to be motivated by promoting innovation and the best interests of Internet users, when they oppose on principle, smart network innovation and reasonable network management practices that make the Internet safer and more secure going forward.
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