Who runs the www? WSIS+20 and the future of Internet governance
Sophia Longwe
39th Chaos Communication Congress (39C3): Power Cycles · Day 4 · Saal Ground
Sophia Longwe, a Project Manager in the public policy team of Wikimedia Germany, delivered a compelling talk at 39C3, addressing the fundamental question of "Who runs the worldwide web?" Her presentation, titled "WSIS+20 and the future of Internet governance," delved into the complex, often opaque, world of global digital policy. Longwe's core premise, quoting Rebecca McKinnon, is that the internet is inherently political, and its evolution compatible with democratic values is not automatic but depends entirely on its structure, governance, and usage. Governments and corporations, she argues, are actively shaping the internet to fit their own agendas.