The Internet is getting its due. It has been nominated for the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize — along with several other contenders, of course — for its invaluable contribution in promoting free speech, free thinking, debate and consensus building. The world wide web was nominated by the popular magazine, Wired. It is probably the first time that technology has been nominated for a prize meant for human beings.
It’s beyond doubt the world has been revolutionised by the advent of the Internet. It is now considered, and rightly so, one of the prime sources of knowledge and information. Today news in the internet seemingly travels at the speed of light — even thought. But over and above everything else, it has broken down walls between peoples and nations, leading to what is called a global internet community. Today an Icelander can connect with a Fijian on issues that they both agree or disagree with or simply because of their common hobbies and passions. On the downside, the net enables you to band together with like-minded people. This may have the opposite effect of reducing dialogue since you can shun ideas you don’t want to hear.
Nevertheless, the net remains the world’s biggest platform for engagement and dialogue for those who want it. Such is its power that an authoritarian China has blocked Google and several networking sites for fear of the dissent it can create. Even democracies like UK had at one point thought of taking stern measures against some popular sites. With more and more people accessing the net, its power can only grow.
This brings us to the question of whether the freedom of the Internet should remain unfettered. It has become a favourite hunting ground for jihadists, paedophiles, hate groups and racists. The jihadists use the web to recruit potential candidates, exchange messages and coordinate terror attacks. There are several websites that detail the processes of bomb-making. The paedophiles use it to track down children, who are easy targets because of their innocence and vulnerability. The racists and the communalists exploit the medium to propagate hate and suspicion. It has also become a convenient site for pornography.
Though internet policing has been more active and cyber laws strengthened worldwide — India being one of the few exceptions — it is imperative to realise that the freedom of the web has become intrinsic to the progress of mankind. If the Internet does win the Nobel Prize, it would be a tribute to all those who have utilised the medium to make the world a better place.
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