The Politics and Economics of Connectivity
Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 9:04 am
The Internet of Things (IoT): A World of Connected Devices
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the vast network of physical devices—from smart home appliances and wearable fitness trackers to industrial sensors and connected cars—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that allow them to connect to the internet and exchange data.
The potential of IoT is immense. It promises to make our home phone number database s more efficient, our cities smarter, and our industries more productive. However, it also raises significant concerns about privacy and security. The more of our lives we connect to the internet, the more vulnerable we become to cyberattacks and data breaches. The sheer volume of data generated by billions of IoT devices will also place a massive strain on our existing internet infrastructure.
The internet is not a neutral space. Its development and governance are shaped by political and economic forces.
Net Neutrality: This is the principle that ISPs should treat all data on the internet equally, without discriminating or charging differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. The debate over net neutrality is a battle for the soul of the internet: should it remain an open and level playing field, or should ISPs be allowed to create fast lanes and slow lanes for different types of content?
The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the vast network of physical devices—from smart home appliances and wearable fitness trackers to industrial sensors and connected cars—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies that allow them to connect to the internet and exchange data.
The potential of IoT is immense. It promises to make our home phone number database s more efficient, our cities smarter, and our industries more productive. However, it also raises significant concerns about privacy and security. The more of our lives we connect to the internet, the more vulnerable we become to cyberattacks and data breaches. The sheer volume of data generated by billions of IoT devices will also place a massive strain on our existing internet infrastructure.
The internet is not a neutral space. Its development and governance are shaped by political and economic forces.
Net Neutrality: This is the principle that ISPs should treat all data on the internet equally, without discriminating or charging differently based on user, content, website, platform, application, type of attached equipment, or method of communication. The debate over net neutrality is a battle for the soul of the internet: should it remain an open and level playing field, or should ISPs be allowed to create fast lanes and slow lanes for different types of content?