Shortcomings in the design of the internet
The internet as we know it is showing signs of age, since it was devised more than 40 years ago. There are quite a few central points of failure for the traditional internet, these include the Domain Name System servers, public-key infrastructure, and centralized data stores storing end-user data. The centralized services as well get frequently hacked. The core internet infrastructure has security problems and the web services with centralized data models have exposed weaknesses in the original design of the internet.
However, there are new developments in place which aim to address some of these shortcomings in the design of the internet. One such development is Web3, that is based on blockchain technology and represents a progression in the digital infrastructure. It facilitates peer-to-peer exchange between users, which means there is no place for trusted intermediaries…
Sources:
1. Ali, M., Shea, R., Nelson, J., & Freedman, M. J. (2017). Blockstack: A new decentralized internet. Whitepaper.
2. Potts, J., & Rennie, E. (2019). Web3 and the Creative Industries: How Blockchains Are Reshaping Business Models. Forthcoming in S. Cunningham (ed.) A Research Agenda for Creative Industries.
