Let’s Not Forget the Lobbyists

Common Cause recently released a report, Broadband Gatekeepers, that describes the influence that lobbyists have on broadband policies. The numbers are staggering -- the ISP industry spent $234 million lobbying the 116th Congress (2019 and 2020). That number is likely understated since the rules on reporting lobbying are lax, and enforcement is almost nonexistent. That number doesn't include the huge amounts of lobbying efforts at State legislatures. more

Copper Thieves in New Brunswick Impacting Bell Aliant Customers

Bell Aliant customers in the Canadian province of New Brunswick have been experiencing repeated and prolonged disruption to their internet, home phone, and TV services due to vandalism to Bell's network. more

European Parliament Votes Down Amendments Aimed at Strengthening Network Neutrality

Following some heated debates, the European Parliament today voted down various amendments aimed at strengthening network neutrality in the new telecommunications package which has been on the agenda of the European Union for more than two years. more

Massive Changes to the Chinese Tech Industry

It was on the cards. For weeks, Jack Ma, the digital tycoon of China, founder of Ant and of e-commerce giant Alibaba (the Chinese Amazon), disappeared off the radar after he was summoned by the Chinese Government and most likely lectured on the fact that his company was out of step with official Chinese policy. Consequently, the Government levied a multi-billion dollar antitrust fine against Alibaba, deleted its popular web browser from app stores and took several other actions against the company. more

A Paradigm Shift in Telecom Services: TSP Competing With OTTs in the Era of RCS

Telecom operators are challenging OTT platforms by deploying Rich Communication Services. This reversal of roles prompts fresh regulatory scrutiny, revives the case for network neutrality, and demands a risk-based approach to preserving digital competition. more

Want to Help Ensure the Internet Remains Open? Internet Society Seeks Nominations for 2025 Board of Trustees

Do you (or someone you know) believe that people everywhere should have access to affordable, reliable, and resilient Internet connectivity? Are you passionate about ensuring that people everywhere have an Internet experience that is safe, secure, and protects them online? Do you have leadership experience in business, government, philanthropy, and/or the nonprofit sector? more

Celebrating 40 Years of .COM

Last month marked 40 years since the registration of the world's first ever .com domain name – symbolics.com – in March 1985. It’s a time to reflect both on the role .com has played in the evolution and growth of the internet over the past 40 years, and on the importance of ensuring that .com remains secure, stable, and resilient for the billions of people who rely on it every day. Who could have imagined in 1985 that over the course of the next four decades, internet users would register hundreds of millions of domain names... more

Thousands of Third-Party Domains Target Super Bowl Betting Brands

When major events like the Super Bowl are on the horizon, cybercriminals exploit public trust by creating fraudulent domains for fake betting sites, phishing, and malware distribution. CSC's research into top online sportsbooks highlights the hidden risks of dormant domains, which, though inactive, can quickly be repurposed for cyber attacks. Overlooked yet dangerous, these domains play a key role in impersonation, misinformation, and scams targeting event-driven traffic, underscoring the need for continuous monitoring of lookalike, dropped, re-registered, and newly registered domains. more

How Trump’s Trade War is Reshaping the Global Internet

In January 2025, President Donald Trump -- now serving his second non-consecutive term -- unveiled a sweeping tariff regime designed to recalibrate America's global trade relationships. Among the measures was a blanket 10% tariff on all imported goods, accompanied by higher, so-called "reciprocal" tariffs targeting specific regions: 20% on EU imports and a dramatic 145% on goods from China. While these heightened rates were temporarily paused on April 9, 2025, for 90 days (excluding China), the 10% baseline tariff remains broadly in effect, symbolizing a shift toward an overtly protectionist economic doctrine. more

Seven Stages of the Internet

The Internet is evolving far beyond screens and smartphones. A proposed seven-stage framework anticipates a future shaped by autonomous agents, sensory wearables, global connectivity, and quantum networks redefining how humans interact with the digital world. more

Why the IGF Now Sits at the Fault Line

The UN's move to grant permanence to the Internet Governance Forum reframes legitimacy in digital policy. As states accelerate action, multistakeholder processes risk becoming ceremonial, with speed replacing consent as the arbiter of influence. more

Smartphones and Digital Literacy

As smartphones become the primary gateway to the internet for billions, a critical question emerges: does app-based digital fluency prepare users for the demands of computer-based work in a modern economy? more