The definition of "the internet" that you are using, is sort of like defining "the U.S. government" by the constitution. Yet, it is more useful in most cases,

The definition of "the internet" that you are using, is sort of like defining "the U.S. government" by the constitution. Yet, it is more useful in most cases, when referring to "the U.S. government", to include the way in which it actually, typically works. If your point is that it is possible to make an internet which did not violate privacy, sure, it is possible. But, that's not the internet we have, and this is not just a coincidence or a bit of bad luck, but rather an intrinsic feature of the very ease of networking and communicating on a vast scale which is also what's good about it. Making an internet which respected privacy might be possible, but it's much, much harder than before the internet.