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One problem with the coexistence argument is state regulation. Because so much of the web is a corporate-operated SAAS, regulation is being made that assumes t
by hedgedoops2 6y ago
One problem with the coexistence argument is state regulation.
Because so much of the web is a corporate-operated SAAS, regulation is being made that assumes that everything on the internet is a corporate-operated SAAS. The people who make the laws don't understand (or really care about) the potential of networked general purpose computers who can send arbitrary messages and perform arbitrary computations. What they know is platforms and services: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Signal, ...
The problem is that things that don't fit this mold will 'accidentally' become illegal by virtue of compliance being impossible for the authors of such software.
Look at the upcoming EU regulation about encryption, terrorism related content, copyright enforcement. Everything is aimed at the platform companies but in effect regulates all software as though it were a platform. There always has to be an employee who can process takedown requests, or provide access to cops.
In the eyes of "serious people" making laws, this problem does not exist, because everything that lives on the internet is a platform, backed by a corporation. There is no attempt to suppress alternatives, they are just not acknowledged to exist and matter, and thus become banned by collateral damage. If they did exist and had tons of users, those laws could never pass.
The internet used to be a series of tubes, now it's a series of platforms.
- mschuster91 6y agoWe as citizens have a duty to keep politicians accountable - and that includes campaigning against those unwilling to educate themselves and getting rid of them.
- einpoklum 6y agoYou're assuming the "other side" politicians would not act very similarly. Unfortunately, that assumption is usually wrong, so merely campaigning against such candidates is really not enough.
- girvo 6y agoCurrently that’s most politicians, and effectively all politicians that are in the majority parties worldwide.
- indymike 6y agoThank you for pointing this out: "n the eyes of "serious people" making laws, this problem does not exist, because everything that lives on the internet is a platform, backed by a corporation" You've shined the spotlight on exactly what is wrong with the way the internet is being regulated.
- BostonFern 6y agoI haven't familiarized myself with the legislation you mention, but from your characterization, that sounds like more of an EU problem than an Internet problem.
- pixl97 6y agoYou seem to be ignoring that the US and Australia are trying similar things with encryption. China is already even worse. That would cover almost all the internet.
- girvo 6y agoAustralia has been trying to do this for a decade at least. In fact they technically already have — they can demand that I, as an Australian citizen, build in a Backdoor for the federal police and intelligence services into any system I work on, and gag me from speaking about it.