International Model United Nations on the Internet Governance Paradigm
Creators: name: Institute of Legal and Policy Research
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2024

description: Who Owns the Internet? Nobody Owns the Internet in full.[1] The Internet operates as a globally distributed network consisting of numerous interconnected autonomous networks,[2] each setting and enforcing its own policies without a central governing body with uncertain future.[3] This decentralized structure means that no single individual, company, organization, or government controls or runs the entirety of the Internet. Instead, it functions through voluntary agreements and technical standards that facilitate seamless communication and data exchange across borders and continents.[4] This distributed model promotes innovation, resilience, and adaptability, allowing the Internet to evolve organically as technologies and needs change. While various entities may influence aspects of its governance,[5] the Internet fundamentally thrives on collaboration and cooperation among its interconnected parts rather than centralized control. The ownership and control of the Internet present intricate challenges intertwined with geopolitics,[6] governance, and technological progress. [7]  While no single entity claims traditional ownership, diverse stakeholders exert influence over its operation and governance. At its core, the Internet functions as a decentralized network facilitating global communication and information exchange,[8] managed by a myriad of public and private entities worldwide.[9] Key issues include global oversight involving governments, corporations, and civil society, navigating sovereignty conflicts in cyberspace, and ensuring cybersecurity amidst international cooperation efforts.[10] The decentralization of ownership, originating from the United States' pivotal role in its inception, raises debates over who should regulate critical infrastructures like the Domain Name System.[11] Balancing user rights with responsibilities in content moderation and cybersecurity remains critical,[12] alongside economic impacts,[13] democratic governance concerns, and jurisdictional complexities.[14] Ultimately, evolving Internet governance necessitates adaptive policies that harmonize innovation, security, transparency, and global cooperation, reflecting diverse societal interests and maintaining trust in the digital age.[15] 

References 






[1] Jake Harfield, ‘Who Owns the Internet?’ (MUO, 29 June 2021) <https://www.makeuseof.com/who-owns-the-internet/> accessed 19 June 2024.




[2] Mark Pallen, ‘Introducing The Internet’ (1995) 311 BMJ: British Medical Journal 1422 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/29729634> accessed 19 June 2024.




[3] Jeremy Galbreath, ‘The Internet: Past, Present, and Future’ (1997) 37 Educational Technology 39 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/44428427> accessed 19 June 2024.




[4] Aaron Smith and others, ‘Computer and Internet Use by Great Plains Farmers’ (2004) 29 Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics 481 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/40987245> accessed 19 June 2024.




[5] Kal Raustiala, ‘Governing the Internet’ (2016) 110 The American Journal of International Law 491 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5305/amerjintelaw.110.3.0491> accessed 19 June 2024.




[6] Smith and others (n 4).




[7] Markus Muller, ‘Who Owns the Internet? Ownership as a Legal Basis for American Control of the Internet’ (2005) 15 Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal 709 <https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/iplj/vol15/iss3/8>.




[8] Samantha Bradshaw and others, ‘The Emergence of Contention in Global Internet Governance’ (Centre for International Governance Innovation 2017) <https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep05243.8> accessed 19 June 2024.




[9] John Carlo Bertot, Charles R McClure and Paul T Jaeger, ‘The Impacts of Free Public Internet Access on Public Library Patrons and Communities’ (2008) 78 The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy 285 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/588445> accessed 19 June 2024; Justin Sherman, ‘Mapping Private Sector Influence on the Internet: Starting with Internet Protocols’ (Atlantic Council 2020) <https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep26661.5> accessed 19 June 2024.




[10] Prabir Purkayastha and Rishab Bailey, ‘Evolving a New Internet Governance Paradigm’ (2014) 49 Economic and Political Weekly 29 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/24479009> accessed 19 June 2024; Jeremy Goldkorn, ‘The Chinese Internet: Unshared Destiny’ in Jeremy Goldkorn, Geremie R Barmé and Linda Jaivin (eds), Shared Destiny (ANU Press 2015) <https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctt19893k8.18> accessed 19 June 2024.




[11] Václav Janeček, ‘Ownership of Personal Data in the Internet of Things’ (2018) 34 Computer Law & Security Review 1039 <https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0267364918300487> accessed 19 June 2024.




[12] Steven Hick and Edward Halpin, ‘Children’s Rights and the Internet’ (2001) 575 The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 56 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/1049180> accessed 19 June 2024; Xiaowei Wang, ‘A Human Right to Internet Access: A Gewirthian Approach’ (2016) 11 Frontiers of Philosophy in China 652 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/44157038> accessed 19 June 2024; ‘Who Owns the Media?’ (2004) 28 The Wilson Quarterly (1976-) 99 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/45268659> accessed 19 June 2024.




[13] Ronald E McGaughey and Kevin H Mason, ‘The Internet as a Marketing Tool’ (1998) 6 Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice 1 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/40469907> accessed 19 June 2024.




[14] Weon Sang Yoo and Eunkyu Lee, ‘Internet Channel Entry: A Strategic Analysis of Mixed Channel Structures’ (2011) 30 Marketing Science 29 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/23012320> accessed 19 June 2024.




[15] Swaroop Poudel, ‘Internet of Things: Underlying Technologies, Interoperability, and Threats to Privacy And’ (2016) 31 Berkeley Technology Law Journal 997 <https://www.jstor.org/stable/26377779> accessed 19 June 2024.