Is The Internet Closing?

No. But judging from the title of the article in Newsweek, such is the case. As it turns out, the use of the term “closing” was, I believe, to catch attention because the internet cannot really close. From what I understand, it’s basically a system of pathways where vast amounts of information can travel at high speed. One can try to close its own system of pathways but that does not really mean that every system of pathways will follow suit.

The argument in the article is that the internet has become more than itself in this day and age to the point that for better access and more reliable information, a more restrictive regulation is needed. This point of view is totally opposite of what I think is a better way of managing the internet; let it manage itself akin to the “invisible hand” in economics. Of course, there is basis for more restriction in the internet, especially in cases of abuse (i.e. child prostitution) due to the lack of effective governance in the internet at the moment. But to my mind, this does not preclude such drastic measure as to completely affect the democratic and liberal ideology behind the internet.