business models and sensation-rewarding
algorithms have been blamed for exacerbating
online toxicity.
“We haven’t had a fairly complex, fairly complete
plan of action for the web going forward,”
Berners-Lee said in an interview. “This is the
first time we’ve had a rule book in which
responsibility is being shared.”
For instance, the contract proposes a framework
for protecting online privacy and personal
data with clearly defined national laws that
give individuals greater control over the data
collected about them. Independent, well-
resourced regulators would offer the public
effective means for redress. Current laws and
institutions don’t measure up to that standard.
Amnesty International just released a report
charging that Google and Facebook’s business
models are predicated on the abuse of
human rights.
Berners-Lee nevertheless says that “having them
in the room is really important.” He said both
companies had approached the foundation
seeking participation.
“We feel that companies and governments
deserve equal seats at the table and
understanding where they’re coming from
is equally valuable,” he said. “To have this
conversation around a table without the tech
companies, it just wouldn’t have the clout and
we wouldn’t have ended up with the insights.”
The nonprofit foundation’s top donors include
the Swedish, Canadian and U.S. governments
and the Ford and Omidyar foundations.
One of its biggest challenges is the growing
balkanization of the internet, with national