1.2 Trends in international law for cyberspace

Imagine the internet as a huge global playground where everyone from all over the world comes to play, share, and talk. But, just like any playground, there can be bullies and people who don't play by the rules, which can make it unsafe. This is where international laws for cyberspace come in. They're like the rules of the playground that everyone agrees to follow to keep it safe and fun for everyone. However, making these rules isn't easy because every country has its own ideas about what the rules should be and how strict they should be.

Liberty vs. Responsibility

Some countries think there should be an international group, like a "United Nations for the internet," to make and enforce rules for everyone. Others think the internet should be free with no rules, while some believe each country should make its own rules. It's like trying to decide whether the playground should have one set of rules for everyone or if each group of friends can decide their own rules.

Making International Laws and Agreements

In 2015, every country in the United Nations agreed that there should be laws for the internet that apply everywhere. But, they can't agree on what those laws should say. They're trying to use old rules made before the internet existed and adapt them for online. For example, they're debating if hacking another country is like attacking them in the real world and what the consequences should be.

Digital Sovereignty

This is about countries wanting to control their own part of the internet, deciding who gets to access what and how. It's like each country having its own section of the playground and being able to say who can come in and what games can be played there.

Net Neutrality and Zero Rating

Net neutrality is the idea that everything on the internet should be treated the same by internet providers. They shouldn't be able to make some websites work faster or block others, ensuring that the internet is fair for everyone, like making sure every kid has an equal chance to play on the swings. Zero rating is when some services are free to use without eating into your data plan, which sounds good, but it could mean that only certain apps or websites get picked to be free, leaving others out.

The world is still figuring out how to make these rules work for everyone, with lots of discussions and meetings planned. Just like in a school where we need rules to make sure everyone is safe and treated fairly, the internet needs rules too. But agreeing on those rules and making sure they're fair for everyone, no matter where they live, is a big challenge.