Today is “European Safer Internet Day 2012“, an initiative co-funded by the European Commission to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology. Yes, it’s possible to be cynical about “European Safer Internet Day” (is there such a thing as a “European” internet?) but, at a time when the Commission’s proposed new “data protection regulation” is being debated by the European Council and Parliament, is it perhaps worth taking a step back and asking if those advocating greater individual responsibility online and a “bottom-up” approach to internet safety might be onto something? Rather than trying to regulate the internet and protect individuals through legislation, should we be encouraging individuals to take greater responsibility over how they are using their data online? We opened up a discussion on this topic last week, and now we have an opportunity to take your comments to Sophia in t’ Veld, a Dutch liberal Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for her reaction.

First of all, should we even try to regulate the internet? Plamen left a comment arguing that “any attempts at regulating the internet, no matter how well intentioned, will end up creating tools for oppression. The internet is a marketplace of ideas, so normal market regulations don’t translate as well as those applied on the commidity/stock/labour markets.“

What Plamen seems to be worried about is a concern that I share, in that governments are adopting regulations aimed at fighting child pornography and other illegal activities, but in doing so they create very strong powers to check legitimate activities – and those powers can be abused. The point is that these new powers for governments are not being matched by new powers from citizens to control their governments. That goes right to the heart of democracy.

The vast majority of our commenters seemed to agree with Plamen on this issue, arguing that internet regulation was a bad thing. They also wondered if it was even possible to “regulate the internet”. Nikolai left a comment arguing that “the EU should not even attempt to regulate the Internet. To take one specific example of ‘the right to be forgotten’, how will that work? The ‘right to be forgotten’ is a complete nonsense when things can go ‘viral’ in a moment. Once it is out there it is out there. At some point I must take personal responsibility about what I write, where I write it and to whom I give my details and why.“

Yes, people have to be much more aware about the information we put out there. It’s not only on the internet, but even when you go to a store and pay for things with a credit card, for example. I had an issue with a chain in the Netherlands where, if you pay by credit card, you have to show them your ID card. That is reasonable, but then they would store the data from my ID card and were building up a database of user-data this way. This is completely illegal.

The problem is that people never ask questions. They just don’t ask. They are, to an extent, gullible and too trusting; they give their data to anyone – and people do need to be more aware, critical and cautious.

What about Nikolai’s question on the practicality of, for example, the “Right to be Forgotten”? Is it possible to ever be “forgotten” on the internet?

Is it possible to erase all traces of a person on the internet? No, it’s not possible and it may also clash with freedom of the media and freedom of speech. You own your own data, that is fair enough. If you give your data to a company, then you later have the right to recall that consent. Not least, what people don’t seem to realise is that personal data is hard currency. It’s not for free. Facebook are currently preparing for an IPO (Initial Public Offering) of their stock, and this demonstrates that personal data is worth billions. We give that data to companies for free on the internet.

We also had an interesting comment come in from Peter about the global nature of cyberspace. He argues that “governments have already sufficient legal instruments at their disposal to address abuse. On Cyberspace, they should have no sovereignty… Cyberspace does not have borders.” Is it really right to approach this problem from such a narrow, territorially-defined angle? Both the US and the EU are currently involved in drafting new legislation that would affect internet users globally – but there is no way for all the citizens potentially affected to influence the legislative process. Is it, as NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General Jamie Shea argued when we spoke to him, rather a matter for an international body such as the United Nations?

I think, ultimately, we’ll need a global approach. At the same time, I would say we have a long history of data protection and privacy in Europe. You say citizens cannot influence the legislation in other countries, that’s true – but at the same time I note that the US authorities have been very active in the drafting of certain internet regulations in the EU. That they engage in debate when it’s on the table is fine. But that they are actually involved in drafting it – I think the EU should be a bit more mature and defend the interests of its own citizens more. I love and admire the US, and I think it is a great nation and our closest friend and ally, but we should be a bit more assertive sometimes. Are we going to be as complacent if China does the same?

What do YOU think? Do you agree that nobody should be attempting to regulate the internet? Or are you worried that this will make it too easy for service providers to abuse personal data? Are you concerned by how much data about you is available online? Or do you think that individuals should take more responsibility for what they put online? And what do you think about the various proposals being debated right now: EU data protection, ACTA, SOPA, PIPA, etc. Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below, and we’ll take them to policy-makers and experts for their reactions.

IMAGE CREDITS: CC / Flickr – Tamberix

IMAGE CREDITS: CC / Flickr – morburg