Recent events have multiplied concerns about potential fragmentation of the internet into a multitude of non-interoperable and disconnected 'splinternets'. Composed of thousands of compatible autonomous systems, the internet is by definition technically divided. Yet, the internet was also designed to be an open and global technical infrastructure. The unity and openness of the internet appear to be under great pressure from political, commercial and technological developments. This report explores the implications of the EU's recent policies in this field as well as the opportunities and challenges for EU Member States and institutions in addressing internet fragmentation. It underlines how recent EU legislative proposals – on the digital services act, digital markets act, artificial intelligence act, and NIS 2 Directive – could help to address patterns of fragmentation, but also have limitations and potentially unintended consequences.

EPRS Science and Technology Podcast - 'Splinternets': Addressing the renewed debate on internet fragmentation

&lt;p>The internet is a critical technology infrastructure for almost two thirds of the global population. We use the internet for personal, civic, commercial and professional activities. Failure of the internet would majorly impact how our societies, lives and work is organised. While a total global collapse of the internet is unlikely, major disruptions may arise. Three aspects are key in understanding of how this could materialise: the underlying technological infrastructures, which are evolving with time; the fact that tech companies are increasingly shaping the Internet architecture to seek new commercial strategies; and the increasing control of the digital sphere for political reasons.&lt;/p>

EPRS policy podcast - Future shocks 2023: Collapse of the Internet

Since its early development in the 1960s, Internet infrastructure has become almost as important as electricity and transport infrastructures in contemporary societies. More and more key services such as banking, food retail, and health care, rely on Internet connections. Despite its original resilient decentralised design, the increasing importance of a few central players and centralising developments have made the Internet more vulnerable to failure. What repercussions would that entail? Listen to our podcast to know more!

EPRS STOA podcast - What if the Internet failed?

D’athraigh go leor dúinn an chaoi a gcuirimid laethanta saoire in áirithe ó tháinig an t-idirlíon ar an bhfód. Sin an chúis ar chinn an tAontas na rialacha a thugann cosaint do dhaoine ar saoire láneagraithe a oiriúnú. Seo an chaoi a mbaineann tú tairbhe astu!

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip do dhaoine ar saoire láneagraithe

An bhfuil tú bréan de scéalta suaracha agus den nuacht gan mhaith? Is iomaí duine atá faoin tráth seo! Seo chugat anois cúpla rud a dhéanann an Eoraip d'úsáideoirí eolacha idirlín.

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip d'úsáideoirí eolacha idirlín

An ndéanann tú do chuid siopadóireachta ar líne? Má dhéanann, tá tú i measc 65 % d’úsáideoirí idirlín na hEorpa a dhéanann amhlaidh. Is feiniméan é atá ag dul i méid sa lá atá inniu ann, go háirithe i measc daoine óga. Ach is minic a chuireann cleachtais gheobhlocála cosc ar úsáideoirí idirlín rochtain a fháil ar na seirbhísí a theastaíonn uathu. Seo an méid atá á dhéanamh ag an Aontas Eorpach chun siopadóireacht ar líne a dhéanamh níos simplí.

Seo an méid a dhéanann an tAontas Eorpach do shiopadóirí trasteorann ar líne

Seans maith gur duine den iomad Eorpach thú a bhaineann leas as an slua-chistiú. Is uirlis nua idirlín é an slua-chistiú, a úsáidtear chun maoiniú a fháil i gcomhair tionscadail ar leith. Cuidíonn sé freisin le hinfheisteoirí ar mhaith leo tionscadail spéisiúla a mhaoiniú. Mar sin féin, is minic a bhíonn dúshláin roimh na hardáin slua-chistithe.

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip do shlua-chistitheoirí

Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá gá le leibhéal áirithe scileanna digiteacha do beagnach gach post. Tá scileanna digiteacha ísle ag suas le 44% de dhaoine fásta san Aontas Eorpach agus tá thart ar 20% nár úsáid an t-idirlíon riamh. Seo an méid atá á dhéanamh ag an Aontas Eorpach chun feabhas a chur ar an scéal.

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip do dhaoine atá ag iarraidh scileanna digiteacha a fhoghlaim

Speech by Roberta METSOLA, EP President at EPP Hearing on Internet Safety for Children

EP Plenary session - Oral question - The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+)

Internet access: a new human right

Promotion of internet connectivity in local communities (debate)

Internet connectivity for growth, competitiveness and cohesion: European gigabit society and 5G - Digitising European industry (debate)

Recent transition of the IANA stewardship to the global internet community in October 2016 and the upcoming Internet Governance Forum in Mexico (6-8 December 2016) (debate)

EYE 2016 – EYEtv Debates « The internet of inequality: next generation digital revolution » and « Dark shadows around the corner: climate change and future food »

UNKN

Fight against child sexual abuse on the Internet (debate)

Video Hearing with the Senate of the Italian Republic - Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on Internet as a human right

' Ideas for a new world '  Internet access: a new human right - Debate with EC President and former EC President- Introduction by David SASSOLI, EP President

JURI committee meeting. Exchange of views with Romanian Presidency. Presentation of study on Essential Patents and Internet of Things, commissioned by the European Parliament's Policy Department for Citizens' Rights and Constitutional Affairs at the request of JURI committee

Facebook & Other Social Dangers - The political, social and financial impactof the big internet monopolies

Data Protection Policy on Internet - General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Internet privacy settings on a computer

The Internet of the Human Body: Towards a habeas data?

MEPs vote on several texts: opening of negotiations on the Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders - Guillaume, Human rights situation in Afghanistan, in particular the persecution of former government officials - Motion for resolution, the case of Zarema Musaeva in Chechnya - Motion for resolution, Egypt, in particular the sentencing of Hisham Kassem - Motion for resolution, European green bonds - Tang, Scheme of generalised tariff preferences - Hautala, Financial services contracts concluded at a distance - Kokalari, Urban wastewater treatment. Recast - Torvalds, Situation in Nagorno-Karabakh after Azerbaijan’s attack - Motion for resolution, Taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU - Motion for resolution, The new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+) - Motion for resolution.

Voting session: Union Code on the rules governing the movement of persons across borders, the new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+), taking stock of Moldova’s path to the EU

The internet provides many opportunities for kids to learn and explore, to be creative or to interact with their friends and family, but it also entails many risks such as cyberbullying, age-inappropriate content, disinformation and sexual abuse. In May 2022, the European Commission published a new European strategy for a better internet for kids (BIK+). The new strategy contributes to the vision for the EU's digital transformation by 2030 and reflects the principle, 'Children and young people should be protected and empowered online'. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Creating a better internet for kids

Prázdninové plány zmařené přísnými lockdownovými pravidly, nedostatek kontaktu s jinými lidmi a dva teenageři doma – rodina Diaconescu si prožila své. Co je během pandemie drželo nad vodou? Celý příběh rodiny Diaconescu si můžete poslechnout v rozhovoru, který v červenci 2021 poskytli ve videu z cyklu „Spojeni v odloučení“.

Spojeni v odloučení | Příběh rodiny Diaconescu: „Naše děti se s kamarády mohly spojit jen přes internet“

Die Urlaubspläne zunichtegemacht, die sozialen Beziehungen auf Eis gelegt und zwei Teenager zuhause – die Coronapandemie und die damit verbundene Ausgangssperre stellte Familie Diaconescu auf eine harte Probe. Wie haben sie diese Herausforderung gemeistert? Familie Diaconescu erzählt ihre Geschichte in dem Video-Interview an, das sie im Juli 2021 für „Gemeinsam getrennt“ gab.

Gemeinsam getrennt | Familie Diaconescus Geschichte: „Unsere Kinder konnten nur übers Internet mit ihren Freunden in Verbindung bleiben“

Ag an suí iomlánach deiridh de 2021, bronnfaidh an Pharlaimint Duais Sakharov 2021 um Shaoirse Smaointeoireachta ar Alexei Navalny. Pléifidh Feisirí an chaoi ar cheart ardáin mhóra ar líne a rialáil níos doichte agus vótálfaidh siad ar 2022 a dhéanamh mar Bhliain Eorpach na hÓige. É sin ar fad agus níos mó ag teacht suas i Strasbourg.

Ag teacht aníos in Strasbourg: Duais Sakharov, mórchomhlachtaí idirlín agus an óige

David SASSOLI, EP President, gives a statement on "Internet as a human right" during a Video Hearing with the Senate of the Italian Republic (Extraordinry Committee for the protection and the promotion of Human Rights). Recorded statement. This transcription speech is the result of an automatic process. Check against delivery.

Statement by David SASSOLI, EP President on "Internet as a human right" during a video Hearing of the Senate of the Italian Republic (recorded)

It is increasingly recognised that the internet, in spite of all its benefits to society, can also be correlated with significant harms to individuals and society. Some of these harms have been studied extensively, particularly harms to privacy, harms associated with security and cybercrime, and harms resulting from digital divides. This video presents less studied but equally important harms: harms associated with internet use that concern the health, well-being a functioning of individuals, and the impact on social structures and institutions. It also lists some concrete policy options to be considered by the EU Institutions and Member States, to mitigate negative effects of the internet for European citizens. Restrictions: ©The material may not be edited and must be shown entirely.

EPRS - Potentially negative effects of internet use

David SASSOLI, EP President, invites Ursula von der LEYEN, President of the European Commission and Romano PRODI, former Commission President with interventions from Sir Tim BERNERS-LEE, computer scientist and Simona LEVI, founder of Xnet, in a debate entitled "Internet access, a new human right" in the framework of the new series of dialogues called "Ideas for a new world", in the European Parliament in Brussels

Video debate with David SASSOLI, EP President: "Internet access: a new human right"

This infoclip illustrates the existing measure that prevents the young people to visit websites providing a content inadequate for their age.

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