The Intelligence from The Economist Bits in pieces: a fragmenting internet
Nov 19, 2019
The discussion reveals how the internet's initial vision of freedom is clashing with increasing censorship, particularly in China. Doug Jones shares insights into his moderate approach and broader lessons for the Democratic Party. As public health faces new challenges, misinformation on social media about vaccinations leads to rising measles cases in Britain. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality crisis presents a dire threat to children's health, highlighting the urgent need for intervention and the long-term cognitive risks of pollution.
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Measles Outbreak in Britain
- Britain revoked its measles-free status due to online misinformation spreading on platforms like Facebook.
- This led to calls for a "duty of care" from tech companies to suppress harmful content.
Varying International Regulations
- Countries have different priorities regarding internet regulation, creating conflicts.
- The 2000 Yahoo case in France, regarding Nazi memorabilia, highlighted this jurisdictional conflict.
China's Great Firewall and Other Censorship
- China's "Great Firewall" represents an extreme form of internet censorship, affecting a fifth of the world's population.
- Other countries, like Britain, have implemented systems for blocking child pornography and copyright infringement.