> Unless we start deliberately debating the future we want to live in, and information technology in enabling that world, we will end up with an Internet that b

> Unless we start deliberately debating the future we want to live in, and information technology in enabling that world, we will end up with an Internet that benefits existing power structures and not society in general. This is very true. The default state of the Internet is not to empower everyone. The default state is to further the power of those who already have it, with emphasis on anyone with power over the Internet. The Internet is young, large powers are slow to adapt, and the Internet community doesn't have the best foresight, so the popular consensus has been that the Internet is by default the world's power balancer. We've seen some attempts to control the Internet, but only a few have been successful. While some people use that as evidence the Internet "wants to be free", that's just the beginning. Nothing prevents more powers from trying more often and with better tactics. And they will. Letting the Internet be a universal power balancer is going to require active work and engagement. It won't stay in the current form for forever.