Tim Berners-Lee: Creator of the web reveals plan to stop internet turning into ‘digital dystopia’
Plan is backed by companies including Google and Facebook
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the world wide web, has launched a plan to stop the world falling into a "digital dystopia".
Sir Tim unveiled a set of standards that good internet companies should abide by, in the hope of preserving the promise of the internet and stopping it being misused.
It comes amid a variety of online threats that look to damage everything from elections to personal privacy.
The new plan, named the Contract For The Web, was unveiled by Sir Tim's World Wide Web Foundation in Berlin and calls on governments, companies and the public to ensure the web is a safe, free and open platform for all.
The commitment sets out nine key principles. It has already been backed by companies including Google and Facebook, both of which have been at the centre of controversies over the way the internet is used.
"The power of the web to transform people's lives, enrich society and reduce inequality is one of the defining opportunities of our time," Sir Tim explained.
"But if we don't act now, and act together, to prevent the web being misused by those who want to exploit, divide and undermine, we are at risk of squandering that potential.
"The Contract for the Web gives us a roadmap to build a better web. But it will not happen unless we all commit to the challenge.
"Governments need to strengthen laws and regulations for the digital age. Companies must do more to ensure pursuit of profit is not at the expense of human rights and democracy.
"And citizens must hold those in power accountable, demand their digital rights be respected and help foster healthy conversation online. It's up to all of us to fight for the web we want."
The plan tells governments to ensure everyone can connect to the internet, that access is not deliberately denied and to respect and protect people's fundamental online privacy and data rights.
Companies are told they should make the internet affordable and accessible to everyone, respect and protect people's privacy and personal data, as well as develop technologies that support the best in humanity and challenge the worst.
Meanwhile, citizens are urged to be creators and collaborators on the web, build strong communities that respect civil discourse and human dignity, and fight for the web.
Speaking to the PA news agency, World Wide Web Foundation president and chief executive Adrian Lovett said one of the biggest concerns is that just under half the world has no access to the web at all.
"For those who do have the web, it has become much more complicated in the last few years, and I think the key issues there include the problem of disinformation, the challenge of data breaches and lack of security over our data and control over our data, and also governments in parts of the world increasingly closing down or censoring the web or parts of the internet around periods of unrest or elections and so on," he said.
"We will have a process going forward after the launch of the Contract to ensure that we track progress of all of those who have signed on, and others too who haven't, and report that progress, make sure it's public, make sure that we're able to see who is going in the right direction and who is not."
In March, Sir Tim called on people to think about the sort of web they want, as he marked the 30th anniversary of his invention.
Additional reporting by agencies
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments