Jan 30, 2026
3 min read
Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, is advocating for a return to his original vision of a free and democratic Internet.During a recent visit to Australia for his book "This is for Everyone", he participated in a discussion on the current state of the site and community efforts to reclaim it…
Tim Berners-Lee fights to protect the essence of the Internet
Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the World Wide Web, advocates a return to his original vision of a free, democratic Internet.He recently visited Australia for his book It's For Everyone, discussing the current state of the Internet and the community's efforts to restore its essence.
Understand the difference of web
Since its creation in 1989, the Internet has grown to serve approximately 5.5 billion users worldwide.However, Berners-Lee believes it has become a platform for the collective good.Reflect on the evolution of the Internet and relate the marketing of the 90s to the problems it faces today.
Commercialization anxiety
In the beginning, Berners-Lee envisioned the Internet as an open resource.The commercialization of the exploitation of the domain name system began.He has criticized this change, saying that the Internet went from being an academic tool to a commercial enterprise marked by exploitation.
He also identified key moments that highlighted the dark side of the web, particularly the 2016 US election, which revealed significant manipulation and misinformation.This led Berners-Li to advocate for new ways to manage data and power online.
Activism and new innovations
Berners-Lee is now running the Solid project, which aims to decentralize data storage and give control back to users.This initiative is similar to the beginning of the web, with a focus on human-driven innovation.
Encourage Users with Solid
-Solid allows people to manage their personal data effectively.
- Users can choose which information to share with specific parties, giving them more privacy and control.
- The Government of Flanders in Belgium is successfully using Solid to manage its citizens' data.
Management challenges
Berners-Lee shows anxiety about the power of the most powerful company is like Facebook and Google.This monopy is completed in the new or lowercase values of the internet.Hope the current mounting is leading to the right experience and the data match between the thresholds.
Coping with the age of AI
Artificial intelligence was another pressing issue facing Berners-Lee.He acknowledged the transformative potential of AI but stressed the urgent need for regulation.He warned that without the right measures in place, the benefits of AI could be overshadowed by the risks.
Call for attention artificial intelligence
Berners-Lee envisions the creation of a collaborative organization similar to CERN, dedicated to overseeing Ai development.He believes that such scientific involvement of the community is critical to ensure AI remains a useful force in society.
In contrast, current AI development is fragmented and lacks oversight, creating challenges for future security and governance.
Tim Berners-Lee will promote a renewed network that reflects his original and collaborative spirit on January 29 at the Brisbane Powerhouse and January 30 at the Sydney Opera House.
