Historical Development of the Internet

Today, the Internet has become an indispensable part of our lives in communication, education, commerce, entertainment and many more. So how did the internet come about and how did it contribute to freedom of expression? In this article, we will examine the historical development of the internet and the importance of freedom of expression.

The origin of the Internet goes back to ARPANET, which started as a research project of the US Department of Defense in the 1960s. ARPANET was a system that connected different computer networks. Thanks to this system, it became possible to exchange data between computers. The success of ARPANET has inspired the establishment of similar networks in other countries. In the 1970s, projects such as CYCLADES, the European equivalent of ARPANET, and the NPL network in the UK emerged. The TCP/IP protocol was developed to provide compatible communication between these networks. The TCP/IP protocol is a standard set of protocols that underpin the internet. [1]

In the 1980s, use of the Internet was limited to academic and military institutions. But in 1989, Tim Berners-Lee, working at the CERN laboratory in Switzerland, designed a system he called the World Wide Web (WWW). WWW was a platform that presented information on the internet in different formats such as text, images, audio and video. Thanks to the WWW, internet users could easily access the information they wanted through their web browsers. The invention of the WWW increased the popularity of the internet and allowed it to be used for commercial purposes as well.

In the 1990s, the internet quickly spread and became a global phenomenon. The content on the Internet has diversified and enriched. Many services such as e-mail, chat, forum, blog, social media, e-commerce, e-learning have facilitated and enriched the life of internet users. The Internet has also been a powerful tool for freedom of expression. Thanks to the Internet, people have been able to share their thoughts, ideas, feelings and criticisms with the world. The Internet has also contributed to democratization processes. For example, social media played an important role in the popular movements of 2010-2011 called the Arab Spring.

In the 2000s, the internet developed further and integrated with mobile technologies such as smart phones, tablets, wearable devices. The Internet has become accessible anywhere, anytime. In addition, the amount of data on the Internet has increased exponentially. Concepts such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the internet of things have begun to define the new era of the internet.

The Internet is the world’s largest source of information and communication network today. The historical development of the Internet is also an indicator of the scientific, technological and cultural progress of humanity. The effect of the Internet on freedom of expression is indisputable. The Internet provides a unique opportunity for people to make their voices heard, defend their rights, learn from different views and build a participatory society. However, in order to realize this potential of the internet, it must be safe, fair, open and accessible.

Contribution of the Internet to Freedom of Expression

The Internet is a technology that facilitates and enriches people’s lives in communication, information, education, entertainment and many more areas. One of the most important features of the Internet is that it contributes to freedom of expression. Freedom of expression means that people can freely express their thoughts, opinions, beliefs and feelings. In this sense, the Internet offers many advantages, opportunities and examples to people. In this subsection, we will examine how the internet contributes to freedom of expression, through the advantages, opportunities and examples offered by the internet.

The first advantage that the Internet contributes to freedom of expression is accessibility and speed. Thanks to the Internet, people from all over the world can access information, share ideas and discuss. The Internet also provides the opportunity to disseminate and update information quickly. In this way, people become conscious about current events, developments and problems, create awareness and seek solutions.

The second advantage that the Internet contributes to freedom of expression is diversity and richness. The Internet brings together people of different cultures, languages, age groups, genders, occupations and interests. In this way, people are exposed to different perspectives, get new ideas and improve themselves. The Internet also provides many platforms for people to express themselves. Thanks to platforms such as blogs, social media sites, forums, video sharing sites, people can produce content, comment and interact according to their interests.

The third advantage that the Internet contributes to freedom of expression is democracy and participation. The Internet allows people to be more involved in political processes. People can participate in elections, organize campaigns, petition, protest and make their demands heard online. The Internet also helps people defend their rights. They can communicate, receive information and react on issues such as human rights violations, corruption and censorship.

There are many examples of the Internet’s contribution to freedom of expression. Some of these are those:

• Arab Spring: The popular movements in the Middle East and North Africa in 2010-2011 is a process in which the internet plays a major role. Peoples organized over the internet, shared information and made their voices heard.
• Wikipedia: Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopedia, is a project that contributes to the freedom of expression of the internet. Wikipedia is a platform where volunteer contributors share, organize and update information.
• Me Too: It is a movement that started in 2017 and enables women who have been sexually abused and abused to speak up. The movement spread over the internet, with millions of women sharing their stories and finding support. 

Threats to Freedom of Expression on the Internet

The Internet is a tool that allows people from all over the world to access information, share ideas and communicate. These features of the Internet contribute to the development of freedom of expression and democratization. However, the benefits of the internet to freedom of expression are threatened by some states, companies and individuals. The barriers, censorship and attacks faced by the Internet violate the rights of Internet users and limit the potential of the Internet.

The barriers faced by the Internet can manifest in a variety of ways. Some of these are those:

• Access barrier: Some states prevent internet users from accessing information and exercising their freedom of expression by completely or partially cutting or limiting access to the internet. In its simplest explanation, in some countries, governments or other actors prevent internet users from accessing certain sites, applications or content. These obstacles undermine the internet’s ability to be an open and democratic platform. Examples of obstacles include shutting down the sites of political dissidents, human rights defenders or journalists, banning or slowing down social media platforms or messaging apps, blocking uncensored search engines or news sources. For example, Access to the internet is controlled by a system called the “Great Firewall” in China and access to banned sites is blocked. Similarly, access to social media platforms is banned from time to time in Turkey.
• Content censorship: In some countries, governments or other actors control, modify or delete content posted or shared by internet users. These censors violate the right of internet users to express their opinions freely. Examples of censorship include restricting access to content containing critical or dissident views, deleting or modifying content for false news or hate speech, tracking or disclosing the identities of internet users. As it is known, some states and companies prevent internet users from accessing the information they want or expressing an opinion they want by controlling or removing the content on the internet. For example, In Russia, the banned content on the internet is determined by a list called the “List of Banned Sites” and access to these contents is blocked. Similarly, social media platforms like Facebook remove content that doesn’t follow their community guidelines.
• Cyber ​​attacks: In some countries, governments or other actors carry out attacks that jeopardize the security or privacy of internet users. These attacks violate the right of internet users to protect their personal data, communications or activities. Examples of attacks include infecting internet users’ computers or phones with malware, accessing or hijacking internet users’ accounts or devices, blackmailing, harassing or threatening internet users. As it is known, some individuals or groups steal or damage the information of internet users or undermine freedom of expression on the internet by hacking or corrupting sites or accounts on the internet. For example, AnonymousHacker groups such as  seize or crash some sites or accounts for political or ideological reasons, although they can be considered negative as well as many positive actions. Similarly, fake accounts such as trolls or bots manipulate online discussions or run smear campaigns.

These threats faced by the internet make it difficult for not only internet users but also human rights defenders, journalists, activists and non-governmental organizations to work. Therefore, in order to protect and develop the benefits of the internet to freedom of expression, it is necessary to take various measures at both national and international level. These measures include:

• Removal of blocking and censorship of content: States and companies should facilitate and expand access to the Internet, not monitor or remove content on the Internet, recognize and respect the rights of Internet users to access information and freedom of expression.
• Protection against cyber attacks: Governments and companies must secure sites and accounts on the Internet, take precautions and punish cyber attacks, protect Internet users’ information, and recognize and respect their privacy rights.
• Increasing Internet literacy: Governments and companies should organize training and awareness programs and increase Internet literacy that will enable Internet users to critically evaluate information on the Internet, distinguish false or false information, and respectfully express and discuss ideas on the Internet.

The Internet’s threats to freedom of expression are a serious problem for the future of both the Internet and democracy. In order to solve this problem, all stakeholders need to cooperate and work to keep the internet an open, free and secure environment.

The Future of Freedom of Expression on the Internet

The Internet is the most powerful communication tool that allows people to share their thoughts, ideas, feelings and information. Thanks to the Internet, people can connect with other people from all over the world, learn about different cultures, views and experiences, join communities with common interests and express themselves. These features of the Internet greatly contribute to the development and protection of freedom of expression.

Freedom of expression is the foundation of human rights. People should be able to say, write and publish what they think, believe and want. Freedom of expression is accepted as an indispensable element of democracy, pluralism, diversity and tolerance. Freedom of expression also supports people’s access to information, education, cultural participation and social change.

However, freedom of expression on the internet also has its limits. In case of abuse or violation of the freedom of expression on the Internet, the limits of freedom of expression may be exceeded and the rights of other people or the law may be violated. For example, acts such as hate speech, calls for violence, fake news, violation of personal data or copyright infringement on the Internet go beyond the limits of freedom of expression. For this reason, freedom of expression on the Internet also faces many threats. These threats include censorship, self-censorship, legal restrictions, threats of violence, hate speech, trolling [6], disinformation, manipulation and digital printing. These threats hinder the potential of the internet and can endanger people’s security. Such actions can be to the detriment of both individuals and society. Therefore, both individuals and states have responsibilities to protect and promote freedom of expression on the Internet.

Here are some of the steps that need to be taken for the future of freedom of expression on the Internet:

• To be in international cooperation and solidarity to ensure that the Internet remains an open, universal and impartial platform.
• To carry out training and awareness activities to recognize and defend the rights and responsibilities of Internet users.
• Collaborating with non-governmental organizations to oppose and report on censorship and restrictions on the Internet.
• Collaborating with media outlets to develop and enforce ethical standards against harmful content such as hate speech, threats of violence and disinformation on the Internet.
• Developing digital literacy skills and taking security measures to protect against manipulation and digital pressure on the Internet.

The future of freedom of expression on the Internet is our collective responsibility. We must all work together to make the internet a better place.

At the end of our article, while repeating that the internet is the new face of freedom of expression, we would like to emphasize that the future of the internet is actually our future. We hope this article reminds you of the power and importance of the internet and encourages you to use the internet more effectively and responsibly.

In conclusion, the internet is a technology that greatly contributes to freedom of expression. The Internet offers people many advantages such as accessibility, diversity, democracy. The Internet also provides many opportunities and examples for people to express themselves. The Internet’s contribution to freedom of expression will only increase if people use it consciously, responsibly and respectfully.