Forks in the Digital Road: Key Decisions in the History of the Internet

Oxford University Press, May 2024

Summary: Scott Shackelford and co-author Scott O. Bradner revisit the key decision points in the history of cybersecurity and Internet governance, revealing the alternative paths or “forks” that existed at the time and addressing the question of “what if?”. What if encryption was built into the Internet’s architecture from the beginning? What if Section 230, which shields Internet platforms from civil liability, had taken a different form? What if Cerf and Kahn had structured TCP/IP in another way? What if Tim Berne rs-Lee had taken the advice of counsel and patented the World Wide Web? And what if the US government had not gotten directly involved with Internet governance in  1998, or elected not to help launch a new era of cyber conflict in 2006?

The authors explain how things might have been different if other paths had been followed and offer practical ideas to help build a new vision of cyberspace that is as secure, private, efficient, and fun as possible.

Praise: “This new book on the history of the Internet is a delightful read. It is full of anecdotes that trace the development of the Internet and explores the many ‘what if’ situations when other choices might have been made. The authors also consider current Internet issues in a thoughtful and engaging manner that should stimulate the reader to think carefully about the future of the Internet.” —Dennis Jennings, former Program Director for Networking, National Science Foundation (1985-1986)

“It’s easy to forget that the Internet was the result of many individual decisions, made by people under unique pressures at unique historical moments, decisions that still reverberate decades later. This book usefully connects those early decisions to many of the pressing issues we face today, from managing misinformation to securing the Internet of Things.” —Bruce Schneier, author of A Hacker’s Mind: How the Powerful Bend Society’s Rules and How to Bend Them Back