We Are on the Edge of a Potential ‘Splinternet’

The “Splinternet,” simply put, means a “fragmented internet” that’s separated into isolated pieces unable to communicate any longer because of various factors, including politics, technology, religion, and others. The term was coined by Clyde Wayne Crews, a researcher at the Cato Institute in Washington D.C., who in 2001 used it to describe “parallel Internets that would be run as distinct, private, and autonomous universes.” To him, this concept was worth considering. Amidst heightened privacy, security, and other restrictions, he encouraged “more Internets” instead of further regulations.

What about our current situation?

The Splinternet has become a buzzword, but not from Crews’ optimistic point of view, with protests in Iran persisting, the war in Ukraine enduring, and the isolation of Russia from the world by various tech giants, brands, streaming services, and more continuing to grow, .

In March, Russia announced it will be testing separating itself from the World Wide Web, most likely in an attempt to have complete control over possible narratives throughout the country. According to James Griffiths, author of The Great Firewall of China, internet participation by Russian citizens could end at any time. “Cutting off the internet, making sure Russians are only consuming the content that the Kremlin approves of, that kind of thing makes sense strategically, so you can see the path we’re headed down,” he told BBC News. “I wouldn’t be surprised if that came into force in the coming weeks or months.”

So-called “weaponized information” has always been a powerful tool in war strategies. It enables the country to oversee the information available to its citizens – and reliable news, entertainment, and e-commerce cease to become accessible. This is why telecommunication infrastructure is often one of the first things targeted in any censorship campaign.

Online access partners are lending a helping hand

Access reliable news sources is a crucial right for all people. If Griffiths’ prediction comes to fruition, is there a way for citizens in the Russia-Ukraine war to better face the Splinternet? Is there a way for Iranians to maintain the online access that authorities are curtailing?

Fortunately, the answer is yes. Free access (or VPN) partners can be critical tools for avoiding total isolation, determining if your family is safe, and knowing if help is on the way. According to Statista, when the war in Ukraine began and access restrictions were imposed on Facebook, Twitter, and foreign media sites, the search volume and usage of VPNs in the two countries increased significantly. Between February 27 and March 3, demand surged by 668% in Russia and 609% in Ukraine. However, this increase in VPN searches and usage also extended beyond their borders.

The largest search interest in VPNs this year occurred after the coordinated internet shutdown in Kazakhstan on January 5, in response to protests over rising natural gas prices and the removal of a price cap. As a result of the incident, VPN searches increased by around 3,400%.

Companies like Hola that provide their access services for free were founded under the belief that reliable information should be available to everyone. One way to do this is through a community-powered (peer-to-peer) network, where users help other users make the web worldwide again. This means that in exchange for free, unrestricted browsing, users willingly contribute idle device resources to a vast pool of peers.

In today’s geopolitical landscape, a peer-network that gives access to individuals who need it the most is more important than ever. While the Splinternet risks raising a new Iron Curtain – or Iron Firewall – we all have our part to play in bringing hope and breaking down those barriers.