World Wide Web inventor launches campaign to ‘save’ web

Tim Berners-Lee, the computer scientist who invented the World Wide Web, on Monday launched a worldwide campaign during the opening of Web Summit in Lisbon, in an effort to save it from abuse and protect people’s rights.

London-born Berners-Lee called for a “Contract” between individuals, companies and governments around the world to turn the web into a “better place,” reduce inequality and ensure privacy.

“We need a new Contract for the Web, with clear and tough responsibilities for those who have the power to make it better,” Berners-Lee said.

He added that when he created the World Wide Web in 1989, he had envisioned a free network available to all.

However, the web has brought up concerns surrounding privacy and safety online, he added, showing images of fake profiles on social networking sites to prove his point.

Berners-Lee also called for the internet to be available to all, pointing out that currently “only half” of the world has access.

His campaign is being promoted with the hashtag #fortheweb.

Tweet from @timberners_lee

Web Summit kicked off on Monday and is taking place for the third time in Lisbon. It is to continue to be held in Lisbon annually for at least the next five years and potentially the next decade, its organizers announced recently.

The event was first held in Ireland in 2010 and moved to Lisbon in 2016.

Last year’s Web Summit drew some 60,000 people from 170 countries, including 1,200 speakers, representatives of 2,000 startups, 1,400 investors and 2,500 journalists.

Lusa