The Case for a Mostly Open Internet

December 16, 2019

▪ The general openness of the Internet supports economic growth by increasing international trade, productivity, employment, and innovation.

▪ However, increasingly some nations are limiting Internet openness in ways which will harm economic growth.

▪ At the same time the Internet has never been fully open. Governments have long blocked illicit and dangerous material such as terrorist propaganda, pirated content, and malware.

▪ Too little openness limits the economic and social value of the Internet. Too much openness allows harmful activity. However, a “mostly” open Internet can maximize the value of the Internet.

▪ Policymakers should seek to maximize Internet activities that are universally regarded as good, reduce activities universally regarded as bad, and create a high level of technical openness.