Langmeier Backup Magazine
4.4 billion people live without the internet
The majority of people still live without Internet access. However, developing countries are making significant progress.
The number of Internet users worldwide increased by nearly seven percent in 2014, surpassing the three billion mark for the first time. This figure represents approximately 40% of the global population. Consequently, 60% of people—about 4.4 billion individuals—remain excluded from Internet access. According to estimates by the International Telecommunication Union, this number was expected to fall below three billion by 2020. However, prospects remain bleak for the roughly 2.5 billion residents of the 42 poorest countries. While isolated areas with Internet connectivity may emerge in some major cities over the coming years, the vast majority of people in these nations will likely remain disconnected from the World Wide Web for the foreseeable future.
Developing Countries Are Catching Up
Despite these challenges, it is evident that even less affluent regions are increasingly able to establish and maintain network infrastructure. A key indicator of this progress is the so-called international bandwidth, which refers to the maximum available bandwidth within a country. In 2004, developing countries accounted for just 9% of international bandwidth; by 2014, this share had risen to 30%. However, it is important to interpret this figure with caution, as it does not reflect how many citizens in each country can actually access this bandwidth.
Censorship and Surveillance on the Rise
Technologically, more countries are now capable of providing their citizens with unrestricted Internet access—yet, paradoxically, fewer countries are willing to do so. According to the World Wide Web Foundation, 84% of countries either fail to protect their citizens from indiscriminate mass surveillance online or do so inadequately. In 2013, this figure stood at 63%, indicating a dramatic increase in online surveillance within just one year. The same trend applies to Internet censorship: in 2013, 32% of countries censored online content; by 2014, this number had risen to 38%.
Reasons for Insufficient Protection Against Surveillance
The World Wide Web Foundation’s analysis of online surveillance focused solely on the legal frameworks in various countries. It remains unclear whether privacy protection laws are actually enforced or if they are circumvented by domestic or foreign intelligence agencies. To be precise, the findings indicate that 84% of countries do not even attempt to adequately protect their citizens from mass surveillance through appropriate legislation. One significant reason for this is the global expansion of surveillance capabilities in the context of the so-called “war on terror.” Additionally, some states—never known for their commitment to civil rights—have closely observed the role of the Internet during events such as the “Arab Spring.” In Egypt, for example, the military government under Mubarak was caught off guard and ultimately overwhelmed by resistance organized via Facebook. It was foreseeable that other authoritarian regimes would take note. As a result, the monitoring of social media and other communication platforms has increased significantly worldwide. Notably, the technology required for such surveillance is often supplied by Western operators of communication and data networks.
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about the author Sebastian Müller
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Sebastian Müller is a partner and top customer advisor at Langmeier Software and therefore the best contact person for Langmeier backup solutions.
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