Translation: Mozilla executive director explains why the Open Web matters

Original link: https://blog.vzchn.com/translate-what-is-the-open-web-and-why-is-it-important/

From developing Firefox to influencing policies such as Internet privacy protection and net neutrality, the Mozilla Foundation is involved in every aspect of the Internet. Mark Surman is the executive director of the Mozilla Foundation, where he focuses on the open Internet movement, uniting online citizens, and building alliances with like-minded organizations and online leaders. His goal is to make the Internet healthy and accessible globally.

What is Open Web?

The meaning of Open Web is very broad, including not only technical concepts such as open source code and open standards, but also democratic concepts such as free expression and digital inclusion. But these concepts share a core idea: the open web is dominated by a broad set of users, not a specific gatekeeper or government.

At Mozilla, the Open Web is as important as clean water and the environment. Each of us depends on the Open Web: to communicate and create, to work and play, to buy and sell, and more. Like natural resources, the Open Web is vulnerable to contamination, such as online harassment, abuse, fake news, and poor public policy.

Why is the Open Web important?

The Internet is not a ball-shaped chicken in a vacuum. Not only is it not separated from the real society, but it is also closely linked with the real society. The web is where we read news, form opinions and share knowledge. It is a political, educational, cultural and scientific arena. The Open Web has a positive effect on all of these things. The public is more informed, more engaged, more learning opportunities, and easier to connect with others.

An unhealthy network can have the opposite effect. When the Internet is flooded with misinformation, harassing information, or being monitored and censored, we lose trust in our organizations, governments, and even other users, and there are fewer and fewer users on the Internet. The more closed the network is, the more technology is patented, and innovation and competition are stifled. The network is controlled by a few people, and it is no longer a level playing field.

What changes will the Open Web bring to us?

I hope the Open Web continues to enrich our lives. In science, Open Data can inspire new research and breakthroughs; in the arts, the Open Web can support independent artists, connecting them with audiences on other continents; in government, the Open Web can bring greater transparency and better accountability.

How will the Open Web develop in the future?

From desktops to mobile phones to voice assistants, web technology has been evolving at a high rate. The future of the Open Web is not just specific hardware or software, but a set of principles: Is the Internet shaped by users? Does it enrich the user’s life? Is it accessible to everyone?

As more and more devices, such as cars, home appliances, medical devices, etc., come into the network, we need to keep asking these questions and stick to this set of principles.

Original: What is the open web and why is it important? Submitted by: Mark Surman, Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation

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