Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Web Secret 460: the Internet health report

Mozilla - the maker of the Firefox browser - just released the first ever Internet health report.

And why should you care?

"The Internet is an ecosystem. A living entity that billions of people depend on for knowledge, livelihood, self-expression, love…. The health of this system relies on – and influences – everyone it touches. Signs of poor health in any part impacts the whole. We’re all connected."

Okay, I get it. But how would you determine the health of the Internet?

You measure five factors:

1. How open is it? “Open” means that anyone can publish or invent online without asking for permission, and that the technologies used to run the Web are transparent and understandable.

2. Who is welcome online? Everyone deserves equal opportunity to access the Internet, and to use it to improve their lives and societies.

3. Who controls the Internet? Decentralization means the Internet is controlled by many. It’s millions of devices linked together in an open network. No one actor can own it, control it, or switch it off for everyone.

4. Is it safe and secure? The safety and security of the Internet impacts us all. We should be able to understand what is happening to our data, and have the ability to control how it is used.

5. Who can succeed online? We need everyone to have the skills to read, write and participate in the digital world, so more people can move beyond consuming to actually creating, shaping and defending the Web.

Party on, Mozilla.

You done good.

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