The Curious Case of Splinternet: Exploring the fragmentation of the World

Wide Web

Introduction

A “splinternet” is the idea that the open, globally connected Internet we all use
splinters into a collection of fragmented networks controlled by governments or
corporations.
-via twitter handle of [Link]

The internet, once envisioned as a border-less entity fostering global connectivity, is

undergoing a transformation into a fragmented cyberspace, commonly known as the
"Splinternet." The splinternet (also referred to as cyber-balkanization or internet
balkanization) is a characterization of the Internet as splintering and dividing due to
various factors, such as technology, commerce, politics, nationalism, religion, and
divergent national interests. This fragmentation leads to divergent online experiences,
creating isolated pockets with differing levels of accessibility, content availability,
and user freedoms. Two most prevalent example of this are- the "Great Firewall of
China and Sovereign Internet Law of Russia. The Chinese government erected the
"Great Firewall" for political reasons, and Russia, has enacted the Sovereign Internet
Law that allows it to partition itself from the rest of the Internet.
This phenomenon of internet fragmentation raises critical concerns regarding digital
rights, privacy, and access to information, influencing cross-border data flows, trade,
and cultural exchange. It prompts challenges for businesses navigating diverse online
landscapes and poses complexities for policymakers aiming to create cohesive
internet governance frameworks. As nations and regions impose their unique rules on
data governance, content moderation, and cybersecurity, the internet transforms into
disparate ecosystems, impacting global connectivity and user experiences.

Literature Review
1. The book ‘Splinternet: How Geopolitics and Commerce Are Fragmenting the
World Wide Web’ authored by Scott Malcomson delves into the fragmentation of the
internet due to geopolitical tensions and commercial interests. It explores how
governments, corporations, and other entities shape online spaces, creating divisions
that impact information flow, privacy, and global connectivity. Malcomson highlights
how these divisions could redefine the internet, affecting its future accessibility and
openness.
2. ‘Standardizing the splinternet: How China’s technical standards could fragment the
internet’ written by Stacie Hoffmann, Dominique Lazanski & Emily Taylor highlights
China's proposal for a "decentralized internet infrastructure" (DII) and its potential to
splinter the global Internet's architecture, leading to a new form of internet
governance that is multilateral instead of multi-stakeholder and discusses the role of
technical standards in holding the internet together and the potential challenges and
complexities arising from the intersection of geopolitics and deep technical layers of
the [Link] paper concludes that there is a need for governments to intensify
collaboration and coordinate with stakeholders through multi-stakeholder mechanisms
to strategically engage in standards development and communicate globally.
3. ‘Deciphering Russia’s “Sovereign Internet Law” Tightening Control and
Accelerating the Splinternet’ written by Alena Epifanova talks about the new
amendments in Russia's internet regulations which was brought in November 2019
and its significant implications, including the potential for a "Splinternet" where
different states and actors control and regulate segments of the internet, leading to
incompatibility and impeding cross-border cooperation and interoperability. These
amendments aim to create a centralized management system of the internet in Russia,
theoretically enabling the isolation of Russia's network from the global internet posing
concrete risks not only to Russia but also to Germany and other European countries
that cooperate with Russia and have companies operating within it. The amendments
also increase the probability of a major internet shutdown in Russia, which was
previously difficult to execute. Author suggests that The European Commission could
play a key role in creating and implementing measures to protect EU companies and
civil society actors operating in Russia from disadvantages created by the new
regulations.
4. A report titled as 'Splinternets': Addressing the renewed debate on internet
fragmentation’ authored by Clément Perarnaud, Julien Rossi, Francesca Musiani,
Lucien Castex explores the implications of the EU's recent policies on internet
fragmentation and discusses four possible strategies in response to this issue. It
highlights the potential contributions of recent EU legislative proposals, such as the
Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, Artificial Intelligence Act, and NIS 2
Directive, in addressing patterns of fragmentation. However, it also acknowledges
that these proposals have limitations and potential unintended consequences. The
report examines policy options based on criteria such as interoperability,
compatibility with international or constitutional law, and ensuring the continued
functioning and resilience of the internet's transport layer. The report provides
insights into the EU's approach to internet standardization and discusses current
legislative developments, such as the Digital Markets Act.
5. ‘Age of Splinternet’ by Anil Ananthaswamy highlights the fragmentation of the
internet due to various factors such as corporations, cybercriminals, and authoritarian
states. The paper raises concerns about the concentration of power in the hands of a
few companies, such as Google, Apple, and Facebook, and the impact it has on
resilience and availability. It emphasizes the need for a fundamental rethink of how
the internet works to address these issues. The paper also mentions the potential risks
associated with the cloud, including single points of failure and the possibility of
catastrophic failures.
6. ‘Internet Drift: How the Internet is Likely to Splinter and Fracture’ by Steve Song
discusses the concept of a "Splinternet" or "Balkanization" of the internet, focusing on
the evolving manner in which this is becoming a reality. The paper highlights the shift
in internet infrastructure, specifically the ownership and control of the physical
backbone of fiber optic cables, which enables the seamless experience of the internet.
It raises concerns about the implications of this shift, including the potential limitation
of enforcement of digital rights and the impact on democracy and national sovereignty.
This paper provides recommendations for digital rights defenders, such as engaging
with standards development organizations and open internet governance processes, as
well as building awareness and understanding of the impact of internet privatization
and splintering.

Statement of Research Problem

-There exists a research gap on how internet fragmentation affects individuals' access
to information, digital rights, and online freedoms within regions experiencing
stringent regulations or splintering.
- There exists a need to delve deeper into the ethical dimensions of internet
fragmentation, including the implications for human rights, privacy, and data
protection. Addionally, societal consequences like impact on freedom of expression,
political participation, and the functioning of civil society needs to be studied
comprehensively.
Research Objective
Given the emerging trend of geopolitical tensions, commercial interests, and
regulatory actions leading to the fragmentation of the internet i.e., 'Splinternet', this
study aims to investigate the multifaceted implications and complexities arising from
this phenomenon delving into its causes, manifestations, and implications on various
domains.
The research seeks to investigate the driving forces behind the formation of the
Splinternet and to understand the socio-political, economic, and technical dimensions
of Splinternet caused by divergent governance models, differing technical standards,
and regulatory interventions by various states and entities. Moreover, the study aims
to explore the potential consequences of Splinternet on global connectivity,
information flow, privacy, digital rights enforcement, democracy, and national
sovereignty. It seeks to propose strategies to address these challenges, including the
role of multi-stakeholder collaboration, international cooperation, legislative
frameworks, and the promotion of open internet governance to mitigate the adverse
effects of internet fragmentation.

Research questions
1. Which geopolitical, regulatory, and technological factors are contributing to the
emergence of the Splinternet, and how do they differ across global regions?
2. How the concept of the 'Splinternet' impact national sovereignty, cross-border data
flows, global communication, and international trade in different geopolitical
contexts?
3. What are the potential risks associated with the privatization and commercialization
of the internet backbone infrastructure, specifically in terms of enforcing digital rights
and maintaining democratic principles?
4. What measures and strategies could be undertaken to protect digital rights and
mitigate the adverse effects of internet splintering on a global scale?

Research Hypothesis
- Increased geopolitical tensions and divergent regulatory actions by nation-states
leads to the higher likelihood of internet fragmentation, causing distinct regional
internets ('Splinternets') with varying governance and technical standards.
- Regions with stringent internet regulations, such as China and Russia, experience
decreased information flow, compromised digital rights, and reduced global
connectivity due to their efforts in creating 'Sovereign Internets.'
- Privatization and commercialization of internet backbone infrastructure increase
vulnerabilities, leading to potential limitations in enforcing digital rights and
threatening democratic principles.

Research Methodology
Utilizing Qualitative approach, an extensive literature review is conducted to delve
deeper into the existing research, policy papers, and scholarly articles on internet
fragmentation, governance models, technical standards, and geopolitical influences.

References
1. Malcomson, Scott. Splinternet: How geopolitics and commerce are fragmenting the
World Wide Web. OR books, 2016.
2. Hoffmann, Stacie, Dominique Lazanski, and Emily Taylor. "Standardising the
splinternet: how China’s technical standards could fragment the internet." Journal of
Cyber Policy 5, no. 2 (2020): 239-264.
3. Epifanova, Alena. "Deciphering Russia’s “Sovereign internet law”: Tightening
control and accelerating the Splinternet." (2020): 10.
4. Perarnaud, Clément, Julien Rossi, Francesca Musiani, and Lucien Castex.
"'Splinternets': Addressing the renewed debate on internet fragmentation." PhD diss.,
Parlement Européen; Panel for the Future of Science and Technology.(STOA), 2022.
5. Song, Steve. "Internet Drift: How the Internet Is Likely to Splinter and
Fracture." Digital Freedom Fund (2018).
6. Song, Steve. "Internet Drift: How the Internet Is Likely to Splinter and
Fracture." Digital Freedom Fund (2018).
7. Nye, Joseph S. "Internet or
Splinternet?." BelferCenterforScienceandInternationalAffairs. Aug 10 (2016).