How the Internet was Stolen

Then & Now・2 minutes read

The internet's history is marred by unethical practices, monopolies, and a shift from public to private control. Companies like Google and Facebook invade privacy for profit through data collection, challenging traditional notions of democracy and individual rights.

Insights

  • The history of the internet reveals a narrative of deception, monopolistic power, and the transformation of a democratic vision into a complex system driven by profit and surveillance.
  • Open-source software, exemplified by projects like Linux, challenges traditional economic models, promotes collaborative innovation, and offers decentralized, non-proprietary alternatives crucial in countering the monopolistic tendencies of big tech companies.

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Recent questions

  • How has the internet evolved over time?

    The internet, initially envisioned as a tool of liberty and democracy, has transformed into a complex system shaped by deceit, manipulation, and monopoly power. From its origins in Arpanet and NSFnet connecting academics and research institutions, the internet has seen a significant transfer of public investment to the private sector. Companies like Microsoft and Netscape engaged in legal battles over market dominance, leading to shifts in internet development. The rise of Google revolutionized online search and advertising, while the emergence of surveillance capitalism invaded privacy for profit. The concept of net neutrality, fair access, and open-source software have also played crucial roles in shaping the internet's evolution.

  • What were the key developments in internet infrastructure?

    The Department of Defense funded Arpanet to share computing power among academics and military, leading to the creation of NSFnet in 1985 to connect universities and research institutions. Despite commercial use being banned on NSFnet, small operators provided alternatives, prompting network changes. Senator Al Gore initially supported a public internet infrastructure but later shifted to privatization. The eventual sale of NSFnet infrastructure to corporations marked a significant transfer of public investment to the private sector, shaping the internet's infrastructure and development.

  • How did companies like Microsoft and Netscape impact the internet?

    Microsoft and Netscape engaged in legal battles over market dominance, with Microsoft launching Internet Explorer in response to Netscape's success. Netscape's open practices and free browsers gained popularity, but Microsoft's aggressive tactics led to a decline in market share and anti-trust lawsuits. The legal battle between Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice resulted in changes to Microsoft's practices, impacting the future of internet development. These companies played significant roles in shaping the competitive landscape and user experience of the internet.

  • What role did Google play in the evolution of the internet?

    Google revolutionized online search with its algorithm-based search engine, challenging traditional directories like Yahoo. The company's adoption of an advertising model led to unprecedented revenue growth, soaring from $500 million in 2003 to over $50 billion in 10 years. Google extensively collected data to predict user needs, contributing to the rise of surveillance capitalism. The expansion of Google's surveillance practices and lobbying efforts in Washington highlighted the company's influence on the internet's evolution and privacy concerns.

  • How did the concept of open-source software impact the internet?

    Open-source software, pioneered by Richard Stallman with the GNU Manifesto and further developed by Linus Torvalds with Linux, has become prevalent worldwide. Developers contribute to open-source for reasons beyond profit, challenging traditional economic models. Open-source practices are decentralized, collaborative, and non-proprietary, based on sharing resources. Companies like Microsoft embraced open-source after realizing its efficiency and effectiveness in software production. Interoperability, a key aspect of open-source, is crucial in challenging big tech monopolies and allowing diverse alternatives to thrive in the internet ecosystem.

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Summary

00:00

Internet's history: deceit, theft, and privatization.

  • The history of the internet involves deceit, manipulation, political lobbying, lawsuits, and covert theft.
  • Big capital has pilfered from public investment and national infrastructure, expropriating academic research and forcing out democratic open-source alternatives.
  • Devices have been used to steal privacy for profit, infiltrating homes, cars, watches, glasses, and phones.
  • Unethical business practices and monopoly power have shaped the internet's story.
  • The internet was envisioned as a tool of liberty, democracy, and freedom but has evolved into a complex system with hidden depths.
  • Arpanet, funded by the Department of Defense, aimed to share computing power among academics and military command and control.
  • The NSF created NSFnet in 1985 to connect universities and research institutions, leading to a surge in internet-connected computers.
  • Commercial use was banned on NSFnet, but small operators provided alternatives, leading to pressure for network changes.
  • Senator Al Gore initially supported a public internet infrastructure but later shifted to deregulation and privatization.
  • The NSFnet infrastructure was eventually sold off to corporations, marking a significant transfer of public investment to the private sector.

22:48

Internet Browser Wars: Rise and Fall

  • By the year 2000, Microsoft had a 97% share of the personal computing market.
  • Microsoft, Apple, and Xerox engaged in lawsuits over the graphical interface for computers, with only 10 out of 189 claims being upheld in court.
  • Tim Berners-Lee developed the World Wide Web project, combining internet infrastructure with a text-based delivery system.
  • HTML was established as the code of the internet, with the first basic web browser created by Berners-Lee and a more user-friendly browser developed by Mark Andreessen.
  • Mosaic, the new web browser, quickly gained popularity with hundreds of websites within a few years.
  • Netscape, founded by Andreessen, adopted open practices, offering free browsers and encouraging others to use their features.
  • Netscape's browser was downloaded six million times in a few months, achieving a 90% user share and significant revenue.
  • Microsoft, initially skeptical of the internet, quickly launched Internet Explorer in response to Netscape's success, offering it for free.
  • Netscape faced challenges from Microsoft's aggressive tactics, leading to a decline in market share and eventual anti-trust lawsuits.
  • The legal battle between Microsoft and the U.S. Department of Justice resulted in Microsoft opening its APIs and refraining from monopolistic practices, impacting the future of internet development.

44:06

Tech Revolution: Cyberspace, Democracy, and Challenges

  • In the 90s, cable companies faced competition from faster and cheaper internet connections.
  • AOL and Microsoft envisioned themselves as controlling cyberspace but faced challenges.
  • Cyberspace was seen as a new frontier for democracy and freedom, akin to pre-colonial America.
  • The Californian ideology emerged, blending hippie culture with tech industry, aiming for a hip, rich, and free world.
  • The computer revolution aimed to free people from routine, akin to Copernican or Darwinian revolutions.
  • A new class emerged, embracing radical democracy and freedom in cyberspace.
  • The rise of a new underclass was noted, providing cheap labor for Silicon Valley.
  • Pierre Omidyar founded eBay, aiming for a self-regulating marketplace through auctions.
  • eBay's success as a middleman platform highlighted the challenges of self-regulation.
  • Google's algorithm-based search engine revolutionized online search, challenging traditional directories like Yahoo.

01:05:23

Google's Rise: Data Collection for Profit

  • The music industry was powerful, reissuing vinyl albums on CDs and using platforms like MTV for promotion.
  • Early eBay, Google, and Napster aimed for self-balancing platforms free from offline interference.
  • Google faced pressure to turn innovation into profit post the.com crash.
  • Google adopted an advertising model, leading to unprecedented revenue growth.
  • Google's revenue soared from $500 million in 2003 to over $50 billion in 10 years.
  • Privacy was historically valued, seen as essential for democracy and individual rights.
  • Google and Georgia Tech delved into data collection for predictive purposes.
  • Google's mission was to organize and make information universally accessible.
  • Google extensively collected data through various means to predict user needs.
  • Surveillance capitalism, exemplified by Google and Facebook, invades privacy for profit through data collection and prediction.

01:27:27

"Regulations vs Big Tech: Impact on Society"

  • Congress passed a non-discrimination law to prevent single companies like J Gould from controlling essential infrastructure.
  • Telecommunications and Railways were required to adhere to common carriage, treating all network users equally.
  • In the 1990s, the same rules were applied to Telecommunications Giants, ensuring fair access.
  • Net neutrality, the idea of treating data equally, was challenged as corporations paid for preferential treatment.
  • After 9/11, security became a priority over privacy, leading to the expansion of surveillance powers.
  • Google expanded surveillance practices while the NSA proposed a program for predicting terrorist attacks.
  • The techno-industrial-military complex emerged, with Google lobbying heavily in Washington.
  • Airbnb mobilized its community to fight regulations aimed at keeping rents low for locals.
  • Airbnb's platform evolved to include hosts with multiple properties, impacting local housing markets.
  • Big Tech companies like Facebook and Uber lobbied against regulations, influencing community spaces and political decisions.

01:48:42

Decentralized Open-Source Innovation Challenges Big Tech

  • Monopoly decisions should be democratically decided to prevent harm to many people.
  • Google's decisions at the Googleplex are made behind closed doors, impacting public impressions.
  • In the 70s, computer scientists at MIT developed Unix, leading to the creation of open-source software.
  • Richard Stallman pioneered open-source with the GNU Manifesto, promoting collaborative innovation.
  • Linus Torvalds contributed Linux, an open-source operating system used worldwide.
  • Open-source software like Linux is prevalent, running supercomputers, government agencies, and websites.
  • Developers contribute to open-source for reasons beyond profit, challenging traditional economic models.
  • Open-source practices are decentralized, collaborative, and non-proprietary, based on sharing resources.
  • Microsoft embraced open-source after realizing its efficiency and effectiveness in software production.
  • Interoperability is crucial in challenging big tech monopolies, allowing for diverse alternatives to thrive.
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