Splinternet
The splinternet is the opposite of the Internet. The splinternet is the idea that the open, globally connected Internet we all use splinters into a collection of isolated networks controlled by governments or corporations.
Today, governments, businesses, and organizations worldwide are increasingly making decisions that could undermine the way the Internet works—and they might not know it. If we don’t protect the Internet, this will eventually result in a “splinternet”.
Here is how it could affect you:
| Open Internet | Splinternet | |
|---|---|---|
✅ | ❗️ Different search engine, displaying only government-approved sources. | |
✅ | ❌ Blocked | |
Wikipedia (English version) | ✅ | ❗️ Something that looks like English Wikipedia, but is in a different language—and may or may not actually be Wikipedia. |
Your own website | ✅ | ❗ Some people may never see your site because they have to pay to see it – or you have to pay their provider for them to see it. |
What You Can Do
Image copyright:
© Chris Gregory, © Nyani Quarmyne, © Nyani Quarmyne, © Elyse Butler