The centralized framework of today's internet, controlled by a few corporations, raises serious issues. Outages, like the October 2021 incident involving Meta's platforms, highlight vulnerabilities in this system. Users have restricted control over their data, as personal information is commodified. Additionally, a lack of regulatory unity leads to increasing censorship and the emergence of a 'splinternet'. The need for user-driven alternatives emphasizes the potential of decentralization, which redistributes authority and control across a broader network, promoting resilience and equity in internet access.
Today's internet infrastructure runs on fiber-optic cables, data centres, and cloud services operated by giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta. These systems deliver fast connectivity and seamless experiences, but they also centralize control in just a few hands.
Since a small number of corporations control the majority of web infrastructure, platforms, and services, this has created serious vulnerabilities.
Users face limited control over their data, with centralized services monetizing users' personal information and the rise of censorship or surveillance.
Decentralization is the distribution of authority, data, and infrastructure across a network of nodes, enabling user control and diverse alternatives.
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