#open-standards-governance

#open-standards-governance

In 2024 alone, authorities imposed 304 internet shutdowns across 54 countries - the highest number ever recorded. This reflects a growing trend of governments treating connectivity as a weapon.

Carrez calls this 'the survival problem,' and it forms part of his definition of sovereignty - digital, data, AI, and so on. He says, 'A lot of people are just talking about digital sovereignty as like a catchphrase for a bunch of things.'

66% of internet users live where political or social sites are blocked, and 78% are in countries where people have been arrested for online posts. New social media regulations have emerged in dozens of countries in the past year alone.

The Oversight Board has taken steps to formalize its long-contemplated desire to work with other companies, but Meta has thus far declined to move forward with that process.

AI is creating significant disruption and competing definitions of what is 'human made' are confusing consumers. A universal definition is essential to build trust, clarification and confidence. Without standardization, consumers face confusion distinguishing between genuinely human-made products and those using AI, undermining the credibility of the entire certification movement.

Data has become the defining currency of global power. The nations and organizations that can manage, protect, and share it responsibly will shape the future of economic resilience and international cooperation. In an era where artificial intelligence and digital interdependence connect every market and mission, the ability to build and maintain trust in data is now a central pillar of both commerce and diplomacy.

Digital products & services shape almost every sector of modern life. They have become an important backbone of the world's economy and society. The balance of our digital economy depends on a delicate interplay between tech companies, startups, software developers, foundations, and other stakeholders - many of which have partly become autonomous in recent years.

Across the world, governments are redefining data. It is no longer a commercial byproduct, but a strategic resource. One that carries economic weight, political influence, and long-term national consequences. At the center of this shift is what most people never consciously see but continuously produce: their digital DNA.

The internet you experience daily-endless scrolling, algorithmic feeds serving content you didn't ask for, AI-generated slop clogging search results-isn't the only internet available. It's just the one that's easiest to stumble into. You're not stuck with the internet that has evolved alongside the rise of hegemonic platforms. We're 20-plus years into the social internet, and the winners of the last round of audience capture have made clear they're shifting to optimize for social broadcasting instead of networking, to maximize market share and market cap.

In the past year, DHS has consistently targeted people engaged in First Amendment activity. Among other things, the agency has issued subpoenas to technology companies to unmask or locate people who have documented ICE's activities in their community, criticized the government, or attended protests. These subpoenas are unlawful, and the government knowns it. When a handful of users challenged a few of them in court with the help of ACLU affiliates in Northern California and Pennsylvania, DHS them rather than waiting for a decision.

I belong to six professional organizations. Or maybe it's 13, 19, 26, or 47. I can't be sure. The ones where I pay dues or volunteer I know well: ASIS International, the Life Safety Alliance, Chartered Security Professionals, and a couple of others. Then come the niche and industry-specific associations like the International Council of Shopping Centers, public-private partnerships such as OSAC and Infragard, and the countless ASIS Communities.