The velocity of data is increasing and will always increase. Prior to 1986, all of the information ever created by humans was estimated to be equal to 227 Exabytes (EB). Today, IBM estimates that we are creating 1.86 EB of data per hour, that’s over 16 Zetabytes (ZB) per year. And just in case that stat doesn’t blow your mind, IBM also believes that humans have created 90 percent of the data ever created in the last 24 months. There are several sources that predict we will increase our data creation 10x (to roughly 163 ZB per year) by 2025.

Much of this data will be moved around the world over the Internet. We are going to need some rules. In fact, we’re going to need a law. From my perspective, that law would prohibit blocking lawful content, prohibit throttling traffic, and prohibit paid prioritization. This should not be done under Title II of the almost 100-year-old Communications Act of 1934. We need a new federal law that reflects the will of the majority of the American people.

Of course, I can also imagine a future where Washington, DC, is too gridlocked to pass any kind of meaningful laws to govern the Internet. Which means every time a different political party gets the opportunity to appoint an FCC, the rules will change. Which is why, I believe, reports of the “death of the Internet” have been greatly exaggerated.

Sourced through Scoop.it from: www.shellypalmer.com