There is a lot to make of the current state of internet privacy and security that has since spurred a plethora of regulations and innovations. Reported cases of the nefarious operations of entities trusted with the data of their users paint a picture of the inevitable. It is either the current web framework makes way for a more robust and autonomous one, or we find ourselves falling further into the abyss that its frailties represent.

Fortunately, the former is looking more plausible, considering the influx of solutions looking for ways to bring about an overhaul of the existing web model. Blockchain expert from BTC PEERS said: “you will agree that there is a need for solutions, which will go beyond conventional methods to help internet users attain true freedom”. This model, which borders on autonomy and privacy, is fondly called Web 3.0. It has generated so much buzz that it is becoming difficult to separate fiction from real possibilities. In this article, I will shed light on the much-talked-about autonomous internet and discuss its innovative edge.

What is Autonomous Internet?

This decision is borne out of our affinity for autonomous systems, which is evident in the drive to commercialize autonomous technology like driverless cars. However, in the case of autonomous internet, there are little variations. For one, it does not base the entirety of its architecture on artificial intelligence. Rather, it leans towards a blockchain framework that promotes decentralization.

It is safe to say that the autonomous systems proposed by centralized enterprises do little to guarantee that users will have full control of their data and how it is being used. From what we have learned so far, existing internet facilitators are obsessed with amassing the data of their users. And they wouldn’t mind offering free services to keep the data wheels spinning. On the other hand, many of the firms proposing a decentralized internet are looking to create people-oriented models that will ensure that ordinary people have a say in the governance of the network.

This notion features prominently in Threefold network’s architecture, designed to put users at the top of the internet’s hierarchy. As such, users get to revel in autonomy, as the grid relies on participants’ capacity to contribute their resources to the running of the ecosystem. This beats the one-sidedness found in conventional internet frameworks where users are at the mercy of internet service providers.

Kristof De Spiegeleer, co-founder of the ThreeFold Foundation said:

“We need a new Internet which is not owned by a few centralized companies. We need an Internet co-owned by all of us, where everyone is equal, where everyone owns their own data. An Internet which is much more green, which is available everywhere in the world.”

Likewise, autonomy is evident in Tachyon Network's protocol. This solution combines elements of decentralization with standard security infrastructures that would offer users a way around the frailties of the traditional internet protocol. Then, there is Unstoppable Domains, which takes a completely different approach to decentralized internet. For this project, using blockchain-enabled domain names allow users to evade censorships known to stifle traditional domains.

Therefore, we can define autonomous internet as a web framework that enables peer-to-peer networking, while ensuring that there are no intermediaries between internet users and the internet. This model is ideal for decentralized apps (Dapps) like Dreamr which promises to alter the social networking landscape. To do this, Dreamr is combining social media and financial tools to create a crowdfunding ecosystem where people can raise funds to achieve their dreams.

That said, let us take a look at the perks of autonomous internet and the ingenuity behind it.

What Are the Changes That Autonomous Internet Avail?

With autonomous internet, you get to access a network that is devoid of central authority. In other words, an ecosystem, based on autonomous architecture, allows users to connect to the internet directly without the need for service providers. This differs completely from what we are used to on Web 2.0 where users have to go through intermediaries, like Amazon and Google, to communicate and access content online. Hence, users of autonomous networks have the right to access whatever they want, as there are no entities to restrict or filter their online activities.

This possibility bodes well for people in locations with geo-restrictions. A typical autonomous internet avails distributed network nodes, functioning as access points for users as well as internet facilitators. With this design, it becomes a tad difficult to pinpoint and censor the sources of restricted content. Likewise, since central entities have no say in the distribution or dissemination of information, chances are that online surveillance will lose its potency.

This assertion holds as distributed networks would render regulations, backing the surveillance activities of governments’ agencies, ineffective. In a Web 3.0 era, governments would lose their leverage on the proceedings of the online community. Surveilling a decentralized network is almost impossible because decentralized internet does not support monotonous systems. Similarly, the distributed nature of such networks limits the effectiveness of surveillance tools. Blockchain, which is the underlying technology of this innovation, enables encryption for all communications made within the network.

Another advantage of autonomous internet is its insusceptibility to security issues known to wreak havoc on centralized networks. You must know by now that cloud-based solutions driving the tech landscape are prone to hacks. A typical cloud-based system adopts the single server architecture, which attackers can easily unravel. Whereas, an autonomous and distributed internet can operate a multi-server ecosystem. This notion strengthens the integrity of data storage and services implemented on decentralized internet.

More importantly, the multi-server framework, defining the workings of an autonomous internet, is suitable for the latest technology trends sweeping across the tech space. One such trend is the Internet of Things. IoT requires fast and accessible internet infrastructures for seamless connectivity between sensors and servers. And since autonomous internet relies on a network of servers located in various locations, it, therefore, can support IoT networks effortlessly. Autonomous internet also bodes well for 5G connectivity as well as AI-enabled solutions popping up in various industries.

Parting Thoughts

Judging from the arguments raised in this article, do you think that autonomous internet is as groundbreaking as experts believe? This innovation is a fascinating paradigm shift that would change the way we engage with the internet. You will agree that it is vital to the next phase of humanity’s technology leap.