I received an email this morning from Internet father Vint Cerf complimenting me for doing something "amazing" this year.
Of course, I wasn't the only one. It was a mass email sent out from Cerf (or at least his account) to anyone who signed Google's petition against SOPA and PIPA in January. And it wasn't merely congratulatory. Cerf was writing to acknowledge that what we did that day, standing up for the Internet we so adore, was great. But we must do more.
Writes Cerf in the email:
It's time to start a new chapter in our Internet conversation -- one in which we come up with positive and proactive plans to drive constructive Internet legislation in countries around the globe.
Sounds great! What's the next step?
To begin with, let's discuss how much the Internet has empowered us. Complete this sentence:
"The Internet is the power to _________."
What? Fill in the blanks? How is this our way of coming up with "proactive plans"?
Cerf's wisdom:
Our combined discussions about the importance of the Internet will remind legislators around the world that the web isn't like all the other things governments regulate... It's an organic collection of diverse communities whose shared conversations are making the world a better place.
Oh. I get it. Perhaps Cerf is just confused. Maybe he thinks legislators and lobbyists actually care about the fact that the Internet is important and, particularly, that it's an important place for communities and conversations. He must think they don't realize these things, and once we remind them, they will weep and crumble like some reformed bunch of Ebenezer Scrooges, and they'll stop trying to ruin the Web for their own selfish reasons.
Anyway. Cerf's email is accompanied by a link to www.google.com/takeaction/start-something, where users are encouraged to "Complete the sentence, 'The Internet is the power to...' and share it using the tag #OurWeb" on Google+, Facebook, and/or Twitter.
From what I can see on Twitter, the #OurWeb thing is getting some attention. That's unsurprising. As we've discussed before, people love engaging in positive efforts that take the least amount of effort. But, OK, fine, it's heartwarming to see people banding together. There's certainly nothing harmful about tweeting #OneWeb. So go hashtag-wild.
Furthermore, Cerf is right about one thing: As we've stated before on this site, stopping SOPA/PIPA was just a baby step in this battle. Resting on laurels isn't an option. The sponsors of SOPA and PIPA haven't seen the errors of their ways. Rather, they've vowed to come up with different legislation with the same goals. Cary Sherman, the RIAA's chairman, declared that he hopes the protests against SOPA were a one-time thing. And the RIAA has said it will work together with ISPs starting this summer to spy on people's Web activity.
In other words, the war isn't won. And Web users and evangelists definitely do need to keep the fight going against those lobbyists and lawmakers looking to turn back the clocks on technological progress.
But let's get real here. Using social networks to spread sentiments like The Internet is the power to create a world of our own, or The Internet is the power to put ideas into action, does nothing to change the minds of "legislators around the world."
Nevertheless, as Cerf says in his email, this is the beginning of the conversation. Let's hope what comes next in this crucial fight for the future of the Internet is more active than it is sentimental.
Regardless of whether the folk who promoted SOPA and PIPA etc. wake up as a result of Vint Cerf's letter, it does make a difference when he speaks. Any small nudge in the right direction can only help shift momentum away from the destructive legislation of Internet freedom.
You're right about the "power of Cerf," Mary. But I would like to see something more aggressive and purposeful than this from Vint Cerf for the very reason that you cite -- because he does have that power.
I'm not sure if you welcome links to blogs, but I just finished writing a letter to Vint Cerf online at www.publicletter.wordpress.com -- my blog. I am hoping that man will be a buffering influence on the madness with which Google is invading the cyberworld to the point of nearly God-like ubiquity!
Read it if you like. I am so concerned about these issues, and it is so Google-like to impel the recipients of his today's email to log into Google Plus to find out what the letter says. Your article told me what I wanted to know, but was unwilling to log onto Plus to find out.
Worried about my privacy-- it isn't privacy when it's marketed to the wild world web. I'm for freedom, but not for freedom of the press and of internet content, but not freedom to usurp my own freedoms.
I wish Cerf had used an independent email address (not his employers) to do this... because using his Google account makes me suspect that Google has some kind of agenda that it's not being 100% transparent about. I'm sure it's not an "evil" agenda, especially since "start something" is so vague, but it just seems like a multi-billion-dollar corporation behind political action should be viewed with skepticism? ... am I being paranoid?
"...but it just seems like a multi-billion-dollar corporation behind political action should be viewed with skepticism?"
Considering Google's butting heads with the various powers looking to censor or otherwise break the Internet, it's a matter of going with the devil we know rather than the devil we don't.
Definetely the battle is not over and my guess is it will never be. The vested interests in both sides are so big we will see this fights coming and going more and more frequently. Winning public support in this fight is a great multiplier! So you either scare and terrorise people to make them ask for legislation, or you play with their sense of freedom and democracy to make react to planned legislation. Obviously some companies like the sense of Internet openness at the expense of users' rights and privacy, but hitting the tradeoff is very very hard!
@sgh: Thank you for your comments. To be sure, there is always something unsavory about anyone from Google ranting about the injustices of other Web companies or Internet influencers. Google, without a doubt, has its own motives. It wants to control the Web just as much as -- or perhaps more than -- anyone else. You are right to be concerned.
@mhhfive: You're not being paranoid. Google always has an agenda. I think getting Cerf to put his name on this was probably the company's attempt to blur the fact that this is a Google-sponsored message. Maybe it was even an attempt to get people to share on Google+. Who knows.
Google has also been active politically. During the last presidential election, the company was criticized for donating nearly exclusively to the Democratic Party.
Cerf's pronouncement and their kin always it seems invite endless parsing.
Curious as to what squeaky clean, politically correct, utterly neutral organization should Cerf associate himself with? That fact that he was associated with the Bulgarian IT advisory council should make those who are nervous over his Google connections absolutely apoplectic.
You could always take his statement at its face value and forego the nesting doll paranoia.
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