Last tutorial we had an interesting discussion about the differences between web and internet. The two phenomena differ from the fact that the internet is the basic infrastructure while the web is a way of accessing the internet. Therefore, I will define the web as a layer that on top of the internet. The internet (then called ARPANET) started like an institutional alliance between the American military and the universities. It was created in openness by users who refined it in the way that it is today. The internet is defined as free – nobody has patent or ownership of it.

Exactly the aspect of freedom is one of the things that distinguishes the two phenomena. As I see it, the World Wide Web is not free. It consists of web browsers that are privately owned and who have self-interest to handle. An example is the browser Google Chrome which can access and analyse all users’ information and data. Google owns the software and as a result, Google has influence on what kind of information each user is presented to. At the same time, Google owns the users’ data and can sell it to third parties.

It makes me wonder – does the web work in the same way as panopticon? Who is watching and does anyone watch the watcher?

In some way, you can define surveillance on the World Wide Web as omnopticon where everyone monitors everyone. Companies as individuals. By using the World Wide Web, we give permission for the surveillance culture. On the one hand, there is a demand for transparency – you cannot use the World Wide Web without being watched. On the other hand, it will be difficult to be in the 21st century without participating. In my opinion we are dependent on the web software – both on work and in social contexts.

Will you to take the risk?

Well I have to. Because otherwise I will probably fail this class.