The Internet is a vast network of computers that spans the world, but who controls it? Who manages it and shapes the way it operates? In this article, we will uncover some of the key players and what they are responsible for.
People are referring to the Internet as there “giant, collective brain.” It is where we get our information and communicate with each other. But, who controls this brain? Who determines what we do on the Internet and how? Who has the power over communications on the Internet?
How big is the internet?
In 2013, Edward Snowden shocked the world when he revealed the extent of the US government’s surveillance program. The program had been collecting data on American citizens without their knowledge or consent, and it was clear that the government had been using this data to infringe on people’s privacy. In the wake of Snowden’s revelations, many people began to wonder who else might be watching them online.
It turns out, there are a lot of people who have access to our online data. From ISPs to tech giants, there are plenty of companies and organizations that can see what we’re doing online. And while some of these entities may have our best interests at heart, others may be more interested in using our data for their own gain.
So, who exactly has access to our data? And how big is the internet anyway? Let’s take a closer look.
The internet is big. It’s really, really big. But how big is it? That’s a tough question to answer, because the internet is constantly expanding and evolving. Nevertheless, we can take a look at some numbers and get a general sense of how large the internet is.
As of June 2018, there were an estimated 3.8 billion internet users in the world.1 This number has been growing rapidly over the years, and it is expected to continue to grow. By 2025, it is projected that there will be around 7.5 billion internet users in the world.2
The total amount of data that is transmitted over the internet each day is also huge. Cisco estimates that in 2017, there were 1.9 zettabytes (1 zettabyte = 1 trillion gigabytes) of traffic per day on the internet.3 This number is expected to nearly triple by 2021, reaching 5.5 zettabytes per day.4
Clearly, the internet is a massive interconnected network with a vast amount of users and data flowing through it every day. And as more and more people and devices come online, it will only continue to grow larger.
Today, the internet is a global network of computers connected together using the TCP/IP protocol. It is estimated that there are over 1 billion computers connected to the internet, with over 60 million new users connecting every year. The internet has become an essential part of our lives, providing us with a wealth of information and communication tools.
What is the NSA?
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a U.S. government agency responsible for global monitoring, collection, and processing of information and data for foreign intelligence and counterintelligence purposes.
How much does it cost to run the internet?
The internet is a global network of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite (TCP/IP) to serve billions of users worldwide. It is a network of networks that consists of private, public, academic, business, and government networks of local to global scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless, and optical networking technologies. The Internet carries an extensive range of information resources and services, such as the inter-linked hypertext documents and applications of the World Wide Web (WWW), electronic mail, telephony, and file sharing.
The design of the internet was funded by the United States Department of Defense through DARPA in the 1960s with the intention of creating a resilient network that could survive nuclear war or other catastrophic event. The original design included multiple redundant links between nodes and hosts so that if one link failed there would be another to take its place. This made it possible for internet traffic to be rerouted around damage so that communication could still take place even after a disaster had occurred.
The cost of running the internet depends on many factors, such as how it is being used (for personal use, business use, etc.), the size and scale of the operation, where it is located (in terms of geography), and who is providing the service. Generally speaking, however, it costs money to maintain hardware and software infrastructure, pay for bandwidth and connectivity fees, cover administrative costs associated with managing the network, and support research.
Who is in charge of the internet?
The internet is a complex network of computers and other devices that are all connected to each other. There is no one person or organization in charge of the internet, but there are many people and organizations who help keep it running smoothly.
One of the most important people in keeping the internet running is Edward Snowden. Snowden is a former National Security Agency contractor who leaked classified information about the agency’s mass surveillance programs. He now lives in exile in Russia, but his work has helped to shed light on the inner workings of the NSA and other government agencies that collect data on people around the world.
Snowden is just one example of the many people who help keep the internet running. There are also engineers and developers who design and build the websites and applications we use every day. These people make sure that our online experience is safe, secure, and easy to use.
Is the internet private and secure?
When it comes to the internet, there are a lot of conflicting opinions on how private and secure it really is. On one hand, you have people like Edward Snowden who have exposed the mass surveillance programs that governments use to collect data on their citizens. On the other hand, you have companies like Google and Facebook who seem to be constantly collecting data on their users without their consent. So, who is really in control of the internet?
The answer is both governments and corporations. They both play a role in shaping the internet and how it is used. Governments can pass laws that restrict what information can be shared online, and they can also force companies to comply with their requests for user data. Meanwhile, corporations can decide what information they collect and how they use it.
Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide how private and secure they want their internet usage to be. There are a variety of tools available that can help people keep their data safe from prying eyes, but it’s ultimately up to the user to make sure they’re using them properly.
Edward Snowden
When Edward Snowden released classified information about the U.S. government’s surveillance practices, he set off a global debate about privacy and security. His actions also shone a light on the little-known people who control the internet.
From the engineers who keep the internet running to the policymakers who make decisions about its future, there are a lot of people with their hands on the internet’s proverbial “off switch.” Here’s a look at some of the most powerful players in the world of internet governance.
Snowden himself is something of an enigma. He was a contractor for the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) when he leaked information about the agency’s mass surveillance programs. He then fled to Hong Kong and eventually ended up in Russia, where he has been granted asylum.
While in hiding, Snowden has continued to speak out about government surveillance and encryption technologies. He has also criticized tech companies for their role in enabling government spying. In 2015, he published amemoir, Permanent Record, which details his life leading up to his decision to become a whistleblower.
Julian Assange
In 2013, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden blew the whistle on the U.S. government’s mass surveillance program. His disclosures sparked a global debate on privacy and security, and led to the creation of new laws and technologies to protect our data.
But Snowden wasn’t the only one fighting for our right to online privacy. In 2010, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange released a trove of classified U.S. military and diplomatic documents, exposing war crimes and human rights abuses committed by the U.S. government.
Assange has been living in Ecuador’s London embassy since 2012, avoiding extradition to Sweden where he faces sexual assault charges (which he denies). In 2016, he was granted political asylum by Ecuador.
Despite being under constant surveillance by British authorities, Assange continues to fight for our right to information and privacy. He believes that democracy cannot exist without transparency, and that the internet is a powerful tool for holding governments and corporations accountable for their actions.
Kim Dotcom
Kim Dotcom is the founder of Megaupload, a now-defunct file hosting service that was once one of the largest in the world. In 2012, he was arrested in New Zealand on U.S. charges of copyright infringement and money laundering. He has been fighting extradition to the U.S. ever since.
Dotcom has always been a controversial figure. Before Megaupload, he was best known for his lavish lifestyle and illegal antics, which included hacking into government computers and evading arrest. Since his arrest, he has rebranded himself as a champion of internet freedom and privacy. He even launched a new file-sharing service called Mega after Megaupload was shut down.
While Dotcom is no longer as powerful as he once was, he remains an influential voice in the debate over internet regulation. His story is a cautionary tale about the dangers of concentrated power in the hands of a few individuals.
Aaron Swartz
Aaron Swartz was an American computer programmer, entrepreneur, writer, political organizer, and Internet hacktivist. He was involved in the development of the web feed format RSS and the Markdown publishing format, the organization Creative Commons, and the website framework web.py, and was a co-founder of the social news site Reddit. He also wrote the Guerilla Open Access Manifesto.
Swartz’s work also focused on political advocacy around free culture and access to information, particularly in relation to copyright and open-access publishing. He helped launch Demand Progress, which organized protests against the Stop Online Piracy Act. In 2010, he was arrested by MIT police on state breaking-and-entering charges for connecting a laptop to the MIT network in an effort to bulk-download academic journal articles from JSTOR; he pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges in 2011.
Swartz hanged himself on January 11, 2013.
Chelsea Manning
Chelsea Manning is a former United States Army soldier who was convicted of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks in 2010. She was sentenced to 35 years in prison, and she served seven years before being released on May 17, 2017.
John Perry Barlow
John Perry Barlow is an American writer, political activist and co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. He has been involved in online activism since the early days of the internet and is a vocal opponent of government surveillance. In 2013, he was one of the first people to publically support Edward Snowden after he leaked classified information about the NSA’s mass surveillance programs.
Conclusion
There are seven people who control the internet, from Snowden to you. The first is Edward Snowden, who exposed the NSA’s illegal surveillance practices. The second is Julian Assange, who founded WikiLeaks and has published classified information that has embarrassed governments around the world. The third is Chelsea Manning, who was convicted of leaking classified information to WikiLeaks. The fourth is Kim Dotcom, who founded MegaUpload and was indicted by the US government for copyright infringement. The fifth is Aaron Swartz, who co-founded Reddit and committed suicide after being charged with felony computer hacking charges. The sixth is Jacob Appelbaum, an outspoken critic of the US government’s surveillance practices who has worked with WikiLeaks. And the seventh is you — yes, you — because without users there would be no internet.
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