The origins of the internet and its current state

The internet’s evolution, from a Cold War-era U.S. defense project to the backbone of modern society, has profoundly shaped global connectivity. Initially designed as a decentralized system for secure communication, innovations like packet switching and the TCP/IP protocol enabled the rise of the World Wide Web, revolutionizing information access. However, the internet’s communal origins have been overshadowed by the dominance of platform capitalism, where tech giants prioritize profit and data exploitation.
This paper highlights the overlooked social and public foundations of the internet and advocates for reclaiming public values through the "public stack"—a framework emphasizing citizen control, transparency, and ethical data practices. It also examines the ethical challenges of AI and generative AI, which amplify biases in the exixting data and interpretation, as seen in the gender data gap. To ensure a fair and inclusive digital future, society must address these biases, embrace collaborative governance, and prioritize equity alongside technological innovation.