Is The Internet Fragmenting?

Microsoft and the Greater Washington DC Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC-DC) presented a four-part series of dialogues on the different types of Internet fragmentation and their policy impacts. This was organized in response to recent developments related to the Internet that have prompted alarming questions about whether it is fragmenting. They include a diverse set of technical, business, and policy developments and decisions that have been taken in response to the continued growth and globalization of the Internet, and its evolving role as critical infrastructure for the digital economy globally. Taken together, they raise overarching concerns about whether the global Internet is moving from a universal system to one characterized by various types of fragmentation that are caused either by intended or unintended consequences of technical, commercial, and/or political decision taken without full consideration of their potential impact.

Event Posts and Videos

The Battle for the Global Internet

Events, Fragmentation, Geopolitics, Internet Governance

From the physical infrastructure to the services that run on top of it, the Internet has become a major focal point of debate around the world. Globally, Internet governance is split into three camps. On one side, there are proponents of an internet driven by ideals of freedom and openness, whose domestic governance usually manifests in an equitable multistakeholder approach. On the other side, authoritarians see the Internet as a threat to regime security and opt for a sovereign and controlled model, where the state is the primary force in governance over the Internet’s infrastructure and services. In the middle, there are the undecideds—some unsure of which direction to go, and others seeking a third way.

Is the Internet Fragmenting, Part 1

From the physical infrastructure to the services that run on top of it, the Internet has become a major focal point of debate around the world. Globally, Internet governance is split into three camps. On one side, there are proponents of an internet driven by ideals of freedom and openness, whose domestic governance usually manifests in an equitable multistakeholder approach. On the other side, authoritarians see the Internet as a threat to regime security and opt for a sovereign and controlled model, where the state is the primary force in governance over the Internet’s infrastructure and services. In the middle, there are the undecideds—some unsure of which direction to go, and others seeking a third way.read more

Is the Internet Fragmenting, Part 1

Events, Fragmentation

Recent developments related to the Internet have prompted alarming questions about whether it is fragmenting. They include a diverse set of technical, economic, and policy developments and decisions that have been taken in response to the continued growth and globalization of the Internet, and its evolving role as critical infrastructure for the digital economy.

Is the Internet Fragmenting, Part 2: The Technical Lens

Events, Fragmentation

This event is Part 2 of a four-part series of dialogues organized in response to recent developments related to the Internet that have prompted alarming questions about whether it is fragmenting. They include a diverse set of technical, economic, and policy developments and decisions that have been taken in response to the continued growth and globalization of the Internet.

Is the Internet Fragmenting, Part 3 The Business Lens

Events, Fragmentation, Uncategorized

“The Business Lens” examines how technology choices and policy decisions that potentially fragment the Internet affect global commerce and economic growth. Microsoft and ISOC-DC are bringing together policy stakeholders, including government, the technical community, civil society, industry, and other organizations, to consider these issues more fully.

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Fragmentation Panel Summary Reports

On May 10, 2016, Microsoft and The Greater Washington DC Chapter of the Internet Society (ISOC-DC) held a panel discussion on “Is the Internet fragmenting?” with Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda, Kathryn Brown, Dr. Laura DeNardis, Danil Kerimi, and Jeremy West. Paul Mitchell moderated the event, bringing out the different perspectives on Internet fragmentation, its consequences, and how to frame and address the phenomenon. As this is the first dialogue in a series of four on Internet fragmentation, it provided an overview of the issue and set the context for the upcoming events, which will cover the technical, commercial, and political dimensions of Internet fragmentation in more detail.