Closing The Internet

As many of you are aware, Donald Trump is running for president. While this idea may or may not be terrifying on its own, he has now suggested "closing off the Internet to certain areas of the world to prevent terror". To me, this idea is absolutely absurd.

The Internet has evolved from the ARPANET to becoming the backbone of the world. It is the primary communication channel for many diverse groups of people, and aids in the quick spread of information throughout various parts of the world. While the notion of "closing off the Internet" is not a new idea, it would be nearly impossible to close it off an a larger scale than it already is.

Almost everybody is connected to the Internet, whether it be through a computer, phone, or some other device. Disabling the Internet would require providers to shut off their cell towers and fiber networks to ensure no Internet access. While this may seem feasible, Internet providers would be extremely reluctant to do this due to extreme revenue loss.

There is also the ethical side to this statement. Was the attack in Paris a terrible event? Yes. Does the event constitute shutting off the Internet in Paris? Not at all. It is public knowledge that groups like ISIS use social media for recruiting. Does this mean that Facebook should shut down? No. While these questions may be very subjective, it is very clear that the root of the terrorism issues is not the Internet. While the Internet may facilitate recruitment and communication between groups and group members, when it comes down to it, the problem is the groups themselves.

Should this actually happen, the terrorist groups will still find some way to communicate, whether it be through encrypted letters, phone calls, etc. If there is a will, there is a way. Such groups are extremely determined, and they will meet their "goals" no matter what it takes. Instead of proposing ideas that will ultimately amount to inhibiting terrorist efforts for a short time, maybe Trump should recommend solutions for the problem as a whole.

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2015/12/08/technology/donald-trump-internet/index.html