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[Hoborobo234]

As we know, the internet spreads and manifests itself in every country in the world, it links almost every computer in the world and connects billions of people in today's society. Some may argue that the Internet does not exist as an entity of it's own and therefore is not one thing that you can pin down and fully describe. The internet itself is countryless, it adheres to no one State's laws or rule and has become a ruleless and lawless hive of activity. Would it be then more effective to declare the Internet as a country of it's own? Surely ruling itself would almost eliminate ALL crime that involves the internet and iron out any problems that occur within this society. It would also eliminate the possibility of the internet itself being taken out by extremist groups and help control Viruses and glitches.

tl;dr : Would the Internet be better off as it's own country?

Feedback is appreciated

[Realmfighter]

How would the internet govern itself?

[Criptfeind]

No. That sounds like it would never work.

[Hoborobo234]

Not really sure. I suppose there would be several different servers and that it would be governed by a Council or something that over looked these servers. Surely if every computer using the internet was linked to a few servers that are effectively managed by Officials it should get rid of problems

[Realmfighter]

Why would anyone quit there jobs to be a full time official (And trust me, governing the internet would be full time) for something that could never pay them?

[Aqizzar]

Would it be then more effective to declare the Internet as a country of it's own? Surely ruling itself would almost eliminate ALL crime that involves the internet and iron out any problems that occur within this society.

Making the Internet its own country with its own laws would end all Internet crime, because nothing would be illegal.  So I suppose you're technically right, if illegality is what you're worried about.

[smjjames]

Another name for that would be a single global government. Still, there are tons of issues that would need to be handled, like who enforces laws, how that would conflict with real world state laws, tons of political issues.

Politics and Voting: Almost exactly the same real world issues regarding voting and politics come into play.

Law Enforcement: There are hundreds of millions of sites out there, how do you enforce laws?

Plus tons of social and ethical issues.

@Aqizzar: Even child porn? I don't think you'd want THAT to be legal. But yea, you have a point in that it would make obvious crimes okay on the internet.

[PenguinOverlord]

No.

[Aqizzar]

@Aqizzar: Even child porn? I don't think you'd want THAT to be legal.

You're missing the point.  If the Internet itself decided its own laws, and more importantly how to enforce its own laws, there would be no laws.

When you think about it, it would work perfectly, because it would be exactly like the modern day, but with fewer boneheaded terrorism investigations.

[alway]

Dibs on king of teh interwebs title.

The only ones capable of truely ruling over and governing the internet would be some sort of sci-fi general AI created specifically for that purpose.

[Eagleon]

It would work about as well as what we have now, with the addition of yet another truckload of authoritarian moral busybodies with god complexes to wade through.

Why would anyone quit there jobs to be a full time official (And trust me, governing the internet would be full time) for something that could never pay them?

Taxes. Yay. </sarc>

[Fayrik]

If you just want MORE internet crime, then sure, definitely make the internet it's own country.

The thing is, there are a lot of internet laws, but since they can only be enforced on the turf of the server or client's country, sometimes they seem like they're moot.
But they're not. Usually the internet is policed at an ISP level, because goverments just don't spend the time or money to care, but all it takes is one ISP that isn't on the ball and everything collapses.

The most unfortunate part of all this, is when the governments do get involved, they act without understanding the situation, which is never helpful at all!

What I think the internet needs - at least in first world countries, are teams of people who /understand/ the internet, to come up with some protocals to make sure things are not totally out of control. (While preserving a strict F.I.F.O system. *cough cough*)

Of course, personally I don't think the internet needs much control, but I think something should be there in perhaps a backseat capcity.

(7 ninja's. Whoa, this topic is popular.)

[ILikePie]

If internet were to be split into various communities (eg, forums, websites, etc.), that govern themselves everything would be just perfect.

Wait-

[smjjames]

I would say no as well because we would have to face the same issues as we do in real life. Well, not quite all issues, but pretty much all of the social and ethical issues.

@Aqizzar: Even child porn? I don't think you'd want THAT to be legal.

You're missing the point.  If the Internet itself decided its own laws, and more importantly how to enforce its own laws, there would be no laws.

When you think about it, it would work perfectly, because it would be exactly like the modern day, but with fewer boneheaded terrorism investigations.

Well okay....

Politically wise, it may actually help elect more sensible politicians, but that can be a double edged sword due to the anonymity of the internet. Basically, how do you hold someone accountable for their actions.

@Ilikepie: You don't need the % sign.

[Grakelin]

ITT, OP is 12 years old and doesn't really understand what he just suggested.