From its earliest beginnings, the Internet evolved from a set of fundamental principles based on openness, inclusivity, collaboration, and transparency. While its original premise was the voluntary exchange of data across a network of networks, its social, technological, economic and political impact has been profound.
The future Internet promises social development, economic prosperity and new technologies that can amplify the best of humanity. But it also brings about daunting challenges and questions.
The Internet Society launched an initiative in 2016 to identify the uncertainties and factors that will shape the future of the Internet. Distinct from other Internet industry research initiatives, this has been a community-based endeavor to draw from the expertise and diverse experiences of stakeholders across our global community. Through a series of interviews, surveys and consultations with key stakeholders over an 18-month period, a picture of the future has emerged. This picture suggests that while technology will permeate virtually all aspects of society in ways we have yet to fully imagine, the foundational values of the Internet will remain as important in 5-7 years as they did 25 years ago.
Our goal for this report was to explore the hopes and fears for the future of the Internet guided by a central question: How do we ensure the continued development of an Internet at the service of all people?”