DEMOCRATIZATION OF INTERNET IS AN UNFINISHED BATTLE

Photo - Nirmal Poddar

Mukesh Devrari 

The democratization of the internet means everyone who has an online presence should get the chance to make his or her voice heard equally. It must happen at both levels - at the level of individual and at the level of the nation-state. Internet is a complex phenomenon. Its social, political and economic impacts have not been studied yet. It inserts pressure at many points at a single point of time. It is difficult to capture its working with all its complexities.

DEMOCRATIZATION OF INTERNET AT REGIONAL LEVEL

In an ideal situation everyone should have the right to use the internet to connect with other members of society for free. It is a positive right. It can only be ensured by providing access to all. But to provide access to all cannot be a standalone exercise. It is attached to other determinants of economic development. Currently, only well off sections have access to the internet. It has increased the social, political and cultural hold of this section over the society in considerable ways.

Perhaps the same pattern was visible on human society when the paper was invented for the first time and when the formal educational system was introduced. Those who used it were in a position to deploy their newly acquired power to expand their influence and dominance. The emergence of the internet as a technology marks the same kind of an event in human history. In India, the influential groups are using internet in all possible ways to improve their lot. They are well placed to make use of it. The current situation can hardly be termed as democratic.  

Access to internet should be universal. It should become our fundamental right. Only then it can have any positive social and political influence. Twitter trends, Facebook posts and debates around them do not represent the churning of ideas and free thinking. It represents the power of a particular socio-economic group to make their voice heard. Democratization essentially means that each individual is equal in its ability to express an opinion.

Currently internet is like a large political rally in a huge playground. Not all can access the rally and participate in it. Only a handful of the population is participating in political and cultural processes through it. Will you call this political rally democratic exercise?

DEMOCRATIZATION OF INTERNET GLOBALLY

Current situation is highly problematic. It is dangerous to some extent. There are few companies which have a complete monopoly over the internet. Google is most powerful among all. It is impossible to imagine life without it. It has a monopoly over the search engine market. Almost every person on earth communicates through Gmail. There is no doubt western societies should be suitably rewarded for all research and innovation they have done. But these companies must not be allowed to establish monopoly all over the world.

Except China, only country which still has a little self-respect, all other nations are completely depended on western multinational giants to remain connected with each other.

Biggest joker among all of them is India. We call ourselves an information technology superpower. Does any Indian company have any global product which is used by masses around the globe?  The current situation can hardly be described as democratic. It represents a colonized state where powerful has completed dominated weaker ones.   

We have reached such a point, where any nation state will not dare to intervene to correct this imbalance. If anyone tried it will be fiercely by western nations and their media giants. As any attempt to democratize internet encroaches on the disproportionate power in the hands of western corporate houses. No dictator wants to reduce its sway.

Conclusion

Access to internet should become a fundamental right. Overall economic development will spur the use of the internet by one and all. The hungry, naked and illiterate population cannot do achieve much by getting access to the internet only. Influence and dominance should be divided globally among many groups. The monopoly of western internet giants will extend their global social, political and economic dominance. All nations should intervene and encourage the creation of national search engine, social networking sites and email companies to balance the might of western internet giants and democratize the internet.

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