The commonly held belief that the internet functions as a kind of connective tissue binding the world together has been under pressure for some time. Various national and regional entities have pushed out a wave of rules and structures to limit the spread of ideas within their borders or to protect their interests. Despite international efforts to address this challenge, the pace of the “balkanization” of the internet has accelerated in recent years.
To date, conversations about the “splinternet” have tended to take place in international relations and technical standards circles. However, the recent US decision to limit Americans’ access to TikTok and WeChat has brought the conversation into more public settings. Through a short panel presentation and guided small group discussions, this session will look at the implications of the splinternet on platform governance issues, with an aim to help members understand how this can affect their ongoing work on regulation, legislation and policy development in a range of domestic issues.
If you are interested in learning more about the network, please email [email protected].
Host:
Chris Beall, Policy Lead, Platform Governance, CIGI