Who owns the Internet?

buchtis · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:01

Looking at this current SOPA debacle I remembered that the U.S originally invented the Internet for U.S troops to communicate.

Say they threw a hissy fit, would they just be able to shut it down?

Dunks · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:02

Erm, no.

RomanNose · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:03

They could destroy DNS pretty much, but that will probably be short term impact.
Also I am pretty sure that Gilly owns the internet.

King Damager · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:03

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee

Educate yourself.

kd

RomanNose · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:04

King Damager said:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners-Lee

Educate yourself.

kd

Educate yourself
The internet!=WWW

Dunks · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:05

RomanNose said:
They could destroy DNS pretty much, but that will probably be short term impact.
Also I am pretty sure that Gilly owns the internet.

Not all of the root DNS servers are US hosted though.

Tummy · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:05

America didn't 'invent' the internet?

Castiel · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:06

America didn't invent the internet......they just keep tryingto assume ownership.

RomanNose · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:07

Dunks said:
Not all of the root DNS servers are US hosted though.

I think they have a significant number though.

Oh yes, I know who invented the internet. It was al gore!!!!!

King Damager · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:08

RomanNose said:
Educate yourself
The internet!=WWW

Indeed, but this would at least partly educate the OP about Internet related stuff.....

kd

Andr3w · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:19

buchtis said:
U.S originally invented the Internet for U.S troops to

What?

bluDawg · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:24

chuck norris owns the internet, but the US wants to take it from him

DiscoDave · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:26

Andr3w said:
What?

I think he's talking about ARPANET, which was pretty much the first "Internet" or first operational packet switching network for the technically inclined. It doesn't exist anymore, but I guess some would associate it with the birth of the Internet.

No single country, government etc could ever shut down or take complete ownership of the Internet.

buchtis · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:30

DiscoDave said:
I think he's talking about ARPANET, which was pretty much the first "Internet" or first operational packet switching network for the technically inclined. It doesn't exist anymore, but I guess some would associate it with the birth of the Internet.

This.

No single country, government etc could ever shut down or take complete ownership of the Internet.

Why not?

IRLeetly · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:31

I give it 25 years for Skynet to own the Internet, if we make it pass this December.

bluDawg · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:32

buchtis said:
This.

Why not?

as they dont have control over the devices on it, but it can block those devices to stop internet connection

TNGL · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:33

It's also decentralised by using BGP4 for routing (iirc).

DiscoDave · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:36

buchtis said:
Why not?

For all intents and purposes the Internet is a decentralised system, every single person who has a router at home with a Internet connection has a chunk of the Internet, even if it's just a routable external IP address. The US could shut down root dns servers, hosting companies and could exclude a lot of content, but still, it couldn't just flick a switch and turn it off, unless they have access to every single piece of network equipment from all ISP's on the planet.

Also, ask yourself this : If the Internet was a centralised system with a single entity overseeing it, imagine the security implications.

Uther · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:36

They didn't invent it but they sure like to think they own it!

DampCat · 20 Jan 2012 at 21:41

the MPAA owns the internet.