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Porous Gardens

29 September 2010, LONDON – The Internet Society urged Internet users around the world to become active participants in the effort to guarantee that the Internet remains an open and transparent platform for communication and innovation.



Moats and Drawbridges

At its INET conference on the impact of the Internet revolution on business in London today, the Internet Society warned all users that they would ignore future Internet opportunities, threats and challenges at their peril. To illustrate the potential for a future Internet that is very different than the one we use today, Internet Society launched *four scenarios that highlight contrasting paths along which the Internet could develop based on economic, political and social forces emerging today.



Boutique Networks

Of the four Internet scenarios, the Internet Society advocates The Common Pool, in which the Internet continues to be built on open technologies and processes, fostering permission-less innovation, economic growth, and social development.



Common Pool

The conference has heard EU Digital Agenda Commissioner Neelie Kroes endorse this approach with a resounding **message that fast, cheap, open Internet access is crucial for all business and other users. “The Internet is increasingly a cornerstone for business and communication around the world today. We often regard it as a utility, but we would be foolhardy to take its unique and invaluable characteristics for granted,” said Frederic Donck, director of the Internet Society’s European Regional Bureau.

The Internet Society said it is up to users to act now to ensure that the future development of the Internet takes a direction that is in the best interests of everyone.

“We all have to engage urgently as big decisions are currently being made on the future of the Internet that will have a direct impact on our business and social lives. Complacency over such vital issues as net neutrality, security, privacy and IPv6 is simply not an option,” Donck said.



Future Scenarios

To help achieve these goals, the Internet Society’s INET meeting in London, entitled: “Opportunities, threats and challenges to your business - ignore it at your peril” will walk participants through what they can do to ensure that the Internet’s future meets its potential. Sessions include a panel debate, chaired by leading futurologist James Bellini, on “What conditions need to be met for the future growth of the Internet?” Additional sessions will address specific issues that are critical to the continued growth of the Internet, including the next generation Internet protocol IPv6, Internet Security Issues and online identity and network confidence.

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