New book examines the pitfalls of the internet

How do we protect long established rights such as privacy and freedom of expression in an era where personal information is recordable, searchable and exchangeable to an extent not previously seen?

That is the question posed by researcher Rikke Frank Jørgensen in her new book 'Framing The Net'.

Jørgensen argues, that we all need to take our basic rights on the internet way more serious than we do today. Failing to do so will lead towards a society in which the public sphere and the information infrastructure will belargely controlled by commercial interests and governmental control.

- The internet's public sphere is largely controlled by companies, and so is the infrastructure. Personal data holds unprecedented commercial value and is recorded, tracked and shared to an extent not previously seen. Exchanges between internet companies and governments are taking place below the radar, Rikke Frank Jørgensen says.

Massive challenges ahead
Jørgensen dissects the internet through four key metaphors: The internet as infrastructure; public sphere; medium; and as culture, thus enabling acomprehensive analysis. The findings are disturbing.

- Exchanges between internet companies and governments are taking place with very little transparency. We need to start treating human rights online more seriously or we will end up not having any, Rikke Frank Jørgensen cautions.

Jørgensen calls for theexamining of existing internet regulation for human rights compliance as well as a strengthening the role played by human rights institutions with regard to internet policies, and finally, for a stronger focus on the ICT sector vis-a-vis human rights.

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