Slouching Toward a Dystopian Internet

Despite the long-term success of the commercial Internet, or perhaps because of its success, there is a vigorous and ongoing discussion about avoiding a dystopian future. First, this topic makes paranoia look rather rational: Malware and viruses could run mad; excessive spam might clog traffic lanes; lack of IP addresses could bring growth to a sudden halt; identity theft and hacked credit card numbers might turn electronic commerce into no-man's-land; and government censorship could deter new media from blossoming. Second, none of the common disaster scenarios have economic roots. This issue's column will try to fill that gap. This paper clears a few unfounded but commonly held fears.