Fragmented Digital Realities: The Growing Divide in Global Internet Access

The internet facilitates the delivery of cutting-edge innovations like AI directly into devices, granting individuals access to essential services. It can be seen as the «lifeblood of the blockchain,» as the integrity of the web sustains the open-source movement and accelerates the development of alternative financial systems.

Following the impactful MiCA regulations adopted in 2023, the blockchain industry within the EU has gained clearer definitions and implications.

The coming year of 2024 is set to witness the implementation of numerous laws aimed at safeguarding digital rights. These regulations address the fair distribution of roles among major tech companies and their market influence. Key priorities for regulation include data transparency, the disclosure of end-to-end encryption keys, and oversight of AI technologies. Consequently, the 27 EU member states might risk becoming a distinct cluster within the previously cohesive global network.

Among the significant initiatives from the European Parliament aimed at protecting the digital ecosystem, certain legislative measures are still under consultation, such as the Digital Fairness Act. This bill aims to eliminate manipulative behaviors at the application interface level, such as hidden «cancel» buttons, auto-renewals, and difficult service terminations, as well as combating «emotional targeting,» where advertisements are shown based on the vulnerable states of users.

Another debated initiative in Europe addresses the dissemination of illegal content involving minors. The proposed CSAM/Chat Control legislation, expected to be introduced in spring 2025, would grant government bodies access to encryption keys of all messaging platforms for content scanning.

Some nations oppose this proposal, citing concerns about restricting journalistic freedom, with Germany, Poland, and the Netherlands taking a firm stance on the issue.

In August 2024, the European Parliament enacted the world’s first comprehensive law that regulates AI based on risk levels, known as the Artificial Intelligence Act.

The law categorizes risks:

Its implementation is phased, with the highest risk category commencing in February 2025 and rollout for other high-risk applications planned through August 2027. AI startups and large corporations are required to modify their algorithms to comply with the new standards or face fines up to 7% of their annual turnover.

The law mandates developers to:

Comprehensive measures to protect the digital realm will necessitate rapid adaptation from the entire sector. Over the next one to two years, companies must adjust to these new realities or risk losing users in the Eurozone. Violations of the DSA and DMA can result in fines up to 6% and 10% of annual revenue, respectively. These laws apply extraterritorially to all EU citizens, regardless of their location.

According to Freedom House, over one-third of internet users suffer from complete access censorship due to state-imposed restrictions. A similar proportion experiences «partial» access, with the number of «fully free» users barely reaching 17%.

Out of the 72 countries included in the study, only 19 citizens enjoy unrestricted internet freedom, 32 have relative freedom, while residents of 21 countries face heavy censorship.

Highlighted in yellow on the accompanying infographic are the areas with open internet access but with partial restrictions, including Ukraine, where web surfing was unrestricted until February 2022. Users have faced enforced measures since 2017, targeting resources from Russia, such as Yandex, Vkontakte, and Odnoklassniki. More drastic changes emerged five years later, with targeted restrictions affecting nearly all resources with a «.ru» domain and their mirrors, and this list continues to grow.

The state employs DNS and IP-level blockages. Internet providers comply with orders, but many users bypass restrictions using VPNs and DNS-over-HTTPS (DoH). DoH protocols encrypt the requests sent from browsers to obtain website IP addresses and substitute them.

Countermeasures in these situations are easily implemented, requiring minimal preparation and knowledge, which is generally sufficient for normal communication with the outside world.

Many would unequivocally name North Korea as a leader in internet isolation, and they would be correct. In this country, access to the global network is reserved only for the elite, including high-ranking officials, hackers, and researchers. Nonetheless, all traffic is strictly monitored and filtered.

In 2019, North Korea had 1024 IP addresses, mainly belonging to state entities. Most connections are made through China’s China Unicom and, since 2017, via the Russian company Transtelecom.

The general public only has access to a sanctioned alternative— the internal network, «Kwangmyong,» which primarily offers educational and propaganda content. The sole mobile carrier, Koryolink, does not support mobile internet. Additionally, restrictions are programmatically embedded in all domestically produced smartphones.

China and Russia both stand out as major purple blotches on the internet freedom map, effectively pursuing control «for the protection of citizens» while receiving some of the lowest scores in rankings.

Researchers utilize a comprehensive scoring system for internet freedom on a scale from 100 to 0, where lower scores indicate complete isolation. If North Korea were part of this study, it would likely be assigned a score of 0.

China has established the most extensive digital surveillance system globally, with the internet functioning as a technically robust but politically closed network. Freedom of expression is replaced by automated censorship, and independent information is supplanted by local propaganda.

With a score of 9, on par with Myanmar, China’s Great Firewall exemplifies exemplary technocommunism.

All external traffic is filtered through DNS spoofing, keyword URL filtering, and Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) within HTTPS. Connections are forcibly terminated upon detecting prohibited terms.

China has homegrown equivalents of popular apps: Baidu instead of Google, WeChat instead of WhatsApp, and Weibo instead of X. Algorithms can automatically delete posts and block accounts, while all activities are monitored in real-time.

Circumventing the Great Firewall presents a technically challenging task as China actively combats any form of tunneling and encryption. However, even under this intense censorship, independent researchers, developers, and journalists find loopholes.

Examples of operational applications for bypassing the Great Firewall include:

Russia mirrors its neighbor’s policy. Although the internet is not yet completely isolated, it rapidly approaches a model of «digital sovereignty» akin to that of China, characterized by control, filtering, and penalties for online activities.

Following the 2019 Sovereign Internet Law, the possibility of detaching the Russian internet segment from the global network has emerged. Since 2020, Roskomnadzor has aggressively utilized DPI equipment, and a national DNS system has been tested since 2023. Additionally, pressure on VPN services is increasing.

Iran is following a similar trajectory, ranking between China and Russia in internet freedom. The Islamic Republic is developing a national information network, SHOMA, a tightly controlled online space with censorship and connectivity shutdowns. Authorities frequently sever access in regions experiencing protests, such as Kurdistan and Baluchistan. In line with North Korea’s model, virtually all resources—including media, human rights organizations, and opposition sites—are blocked.

Turkmenistan is another leader in digital isolation. This country, strategically positioned along the Silk Road and rich in natural gas, is closely connected to its primary importer—China.

Standing before the golden statue of Turkmenbashi in Ashgabat, sharing a beautiful selfie is unlikely, as messaging apps and video calls are banned in the country. All control is exerted by a single operator—Turkmentelecom. Its services are costly and among the slowest globally.

The internet in the republic is still a luxury rather than a fundamental right, and any indication of independent online activity poses a threat to its users. There have been reported cases of arrests, firings, and intimidation for likes, posts, or VPN usage. Authorities can confiscate phones and scrutinize contents, especially from younger individuals.

Internet fragmentation is unfolding before our eyes, as jurisdictions adopt varied approaches to regulating the digital landscape—many of which result in increased local restrictions rather than actual user safety. This trend is likely to intensify in the near future, particularly amidst political and technological competition. The magnitude of change remains to be seen.