Tim Berners-Lee wants better global Internet access and better privacy protection – IT Pro – News

Tim Berners-Lee, founder of the World Wide Web, launched a new campaign called "Contract for the Web". It wants to encourage governments and businesses to ensure a free and open Internet, protect rights and improve Internet access.

Through his own organization called Web Foundation, Berners-Lee released the new campaign. This "contract" concerns the maintenance of an open internet as a fundamental right for all, where governments, businesses and citizens can contribute by adhering to a number of principles. For example, governments must ensure that everyone can access the Internet, protect the privacy of users and keep the entire Internet, without blocking or blocking parts.

In addition, under the contract, for example, businesses need Internet is affordable and that privacy and personal data of consumers are respected. Finally, there are also principles for citizens: Tim Berners-Lee calls them to fight for the Internet, to remain and remain an open source for the public and he hopes to continue to form strong communities that use the language and the media. human dignity is paramount.

The idea is that the contract will be ready in May of next year. This period was not chosen at random. at about the same time, half of the world's population is expected to be online. Berners-Lee does not consider it a milestone to rest on his laurels, but says the Web is at a crucial point. He pointed out that half of the world's population still did not have access to the Internet and that the speed at which more people had access was decreasing dramatically. In addition, he states that those who have access to it face developments that threaten their rights and freedoms. To end it, Berners-Lee wants a new contract for the Web, with clear responsibilities so that everyone can improve the situation.

In addition, the founder of the Web is based on a recent publication of the Web Foundation. report that more than 1.2 billion people live in countries where internet neutrality is not protected and 1.5 billion people live in places where there is no no or no appropriate laws to ensure the protection of personal data.

Berners-Lee has been working on these themes for some time. In July, for example, he joined the Solid project to decentralize the Web and break the power of big Internet companies. Recently, he said that big companies such as Google and Facebook may have to be dissociated to limit their dominance. And in 2017, he voiced concerns about companies' large-scale data collection and lack of control.

The contract for the Web is supported by nearly 60 organizations, businesses, governments and citizens, including Facebook, Google, and French. Government, Cloudflare and billionaire Richard Branson. Just like Google and Facebook, Amazon is mentioned in the report, but unlike the other two, Amazon has not signed the contract yet. The Financial Times has asked Amazon for a response, but Jeff Bezos' company has not responded yet.

Berners-Lee joined CERN in 1989 as a CERN employee to create the World Wide Web. he found that scientists had trouble exchanging information on particle accelerators. The scientist suggested that his colleagues at CERN share documents via the Internet using readable text and hyperlinks. He also designed the http and html files, which eventually led to the introduction of the World Wide Web.