Shira Ovide’s March 8 analysis “Our faith in technology officially died this week,” in the online edition of The Post rang a bell for me.
In the 1980s and 1990s, I edited Change, a higher-education magazine that, among other subjects, trumpeted what the internet and World Wide Web could do for us — for scholarly communication, knowledge access, low-cost conferencing, teaching and learning, and more. It all came true, and then some.
Alas, the “then some” gave us an open sewer, the worldwide enabling of the worst among us. It is now a world of cyberattacks, online bullying, denials of service, data breaches, fake images, ransomware gangs, voice cloning, spyware and chatbots. The harms multiply, now fueled by artificial intelligence. A great innovation bloomed, then went sideways.
The basic rules of the road for the internet — among them sender anonymity and provider immunity — were laid down a generation ago, when the assumption was that users would act in good faith and best versions of online communities would prevail. But we’re in a new place now and need a reset.
It’s time for a White House summit, like the one President Theodore Roosevelt convened in 1905 to establish rules that saved college football. The giant social networks need to join the effort, as an act of self-preservation if not contrition. Maybe the European Union will force the issue; the United Nations might step up. But we do need a leadership initiative. There’s a Wild West here that needs taming.
Tyler Fields is your internet guru, delving into the latest trends, developments, and issues shaping the online world. With a focus on internet culture, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies, Tyler keeps readers informed about the dynamic landscape of the internet and its impact on our digital lives.
