The Future of the Internet

10 Cutting Edge Issues for Global Discussion

Yasuhiko Taniwaki

• Publisher: One Peace Books
• Year: 2026
• Topic: Computer Science
• eBook ISBN:
  9781642736342
• Subtopic: Computer Science General
• Index: Computer Science

While the world is captivated by AI and quantum computing, a more fundamental transformation is underway: the internet itself is changing. For decades, the internet thrived as a global, open, and interconnected network. Today, that model is being challenged by geopolitical rivalry, national regulations, security concerns, and the growing power of technology companies. Many experts now argue that the era of a single global internet is coming to an end. Drawing on firsthand experience in internet policy, governance, and industry leadership, the author takes readers inside the forces reshaping the digital world. This timely and accessible book explains what is driving the fragmentation of the internet, who stands to gain or lose, and what the future may hold for businesses, governments, and citizens alike. A vital guide to understanding one of the most important— and least understood— transformations of our time.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Imprint
• Introduction
• Table of Contents
• [Chapter 1]New Digital Opportunities
• 　A Society Transformed by a Pandemic
• 　The Ukrainian Conflict: The Rise of Digital Warfare
• 　　Fact-Checking Organizations in Motion
• 　Uses of Digital Technology
• 　　Truly Effective Data Utilization
• 　　Institutional Redesign for Achieving a Data-Driven Society
• 　Declining Internet Freedom
• 　　Increasing Pressure Worldwide
• 　　Concerns Surrounding Freedom
• 　Building a Data-Driven Society
• [Chapter 2]Transition to Data Capital
• 　120-Year-Old Prophecy
• 　The Digital Revolution in its Second Phase
• 　Digitization = Creating New Value
• 　Data Usage in the Servitization of Goods
• 　　The Four Types of Data in a Data-Driven Society
• 　Data Linkage Beyond the Walled Garden
• 　The Path to a Problem-Solving Society
• 　　Issue 1: Home Health Care and Data Linkage
• 　　Issue 2: Aging Communities and Data Utilization
• 　　Issue 3: Transportation Systems and Data Analysis
• 　　Issue 4: Intelligent Objects and Data Usage
• 　Wealth Change and Concentration
• 　　The Rise of Invisible Assets
• 　Data Oligopoly of Giant Platform
• 　　Characteristics of a Two-Sided Market
• 　Institutional Development Based on Data Characteristics
• 　　Three Elements for Promoting Data Distribution
• 　　(1) Data Volume
• 　　(2) Data Quality
• 　　(3) Data Distribution Speed
• [Chapter 3]The Dawn of Data Distribution Infrastructure
• 　Concentration and Dispersion
• 　Cyberspace Transformed by Giant Platforms
• 　The Emergence of Web3
• 　　Challenges Facing the Decentralized Business Model
• 　Extension to Digital Policy
• 　What is Neutrality in Policy
• 　　Emerging Third Neutrality
• 　　Vertical Integration Model as Seen in i-mode and iPhone
• 　Major Shift in the Background Network Structure
• 　　Diversification of Rule Formation
• 　　Rule-Based and Principle-Based
• 　　Co-Regulation as Soft Law
• 　　Can Disinformation be Battled with Co-Regulation?
• 　Discrimination or Distinction
• 　Network Structure and Communication Sovereignty
• 　　To What Extent Do the Rules Apply?
• [Chapter 4]Conflicts Over Digital Democracy
• 　The Emergence of the Internet and its Fundamental Principles
• 　Liberal vs. Authoritarian States
• 　　Integration of Real and Cyberspace
• 　　Conflicting Perspectives
• 　　Stalled Discussions
• 　　Multistakeholderism vs. Multilateralism
• 　Aim of New IP
• 　Conflict Between the Two Camps Intensifying at Every Level
• 　　Countries Prohibiting International Data Transfer Double
• 　The Coming Era of Digital Cold War
• 　Is Multistakeholderism Effective?
• 　Japan's Security in Preparation for the Digital Cold War
• 　　Two Methods in Deterrence Strategy
• 　Digital Democracy and Internet Governance
• [Chapter 5]The Future of the Internet
• 　Data Driven Society: From Centralized to Distributed
• 　Ten Key Issues Explored in This Book
• 　　Discussion Point 1: Tangible Assets and Intangible Assets
• 　　Discussion Point 2: Goods-Centric and Service-Centric
• 　　Discussion Point 3: Neoliberalism and Modified Capitalism
• 　　Discussion Point 4: Ex Ante Regulation and Ex Post Regulation
• 　　Discussion Point 5: Hard Law and Soft Law
• 　　Discussion Point 6: Discrimination and Distinction
• 　　Discussion Point 7: Domestic Rules and International Rules
• 　　Discussion Point 8: Liberal States and Authoritarian States
• 　　Discussion Point 9: Multistakeholderism and Multilateralism
• 　　Discussion Point 10: Security, Convenience, and Privacy
• 　Progress of AI and the G7
• 　The Network in 10 Years
• 　For the Future of the Internet
• Conclusion
• Acknowledgments
• About the Author