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What is the Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace?
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- hwahyeon
The Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace was written in 1996 by American cyber activist John Perry Barlow to oppose government regulation of the internet and advocate for the freedom and independence of cyberspace.
This declaration was a response to the U.S. government's increasing efforts to censor and regulate the internet, such as the Communications Decency Act (CDA). Its core messages include:
- Governments have no right to control cyberspace: The internet transcends national borders and, according to the declaration, should not be subject to existing legal and regulatory frameworks.
- The internet should be self-governing: Users should create their own rules, and governance should be shaped by online communities rather than governments.
- Freedom of expression must be guaranteed: Cyberspace should protect free thought and remain free from government censorship or interference.
However, the declaration was based on an idealistic and optimistic vision of the internet as an independent space, free from governmental influence. In reality, there is a significant gap between this vision and the current state of the internet. Increasing corporate dominance, cybercrime, and misinformation have highlighted the need for structured governance, making it clear that absolute non-regulation is neither practical nor sustainable.