Splinternet
The splinternet is the fragmentation of the internet into separate spaces divided by national borders, regulations, commercial interests or technologies, so that not everyone accesses the same network
What it means, how it is used and where it comes up, with its related concepts.
What it is and how it works
The word blends “splinter” and “internet”. It shows up in censorship and state control of content, such as China’s filtering system or Russia’s restrictions, in laws requiring data to be stored within a country, in geo-blocking of services and in the closed ecosystems of large platforms.
A frequently cited example is that of some US news sites which in 2018 blocked access from Europe rather than comply with the GDPR. The debate sets digital sovereignty and the protection of local rights against the original idea of a global, open network.
Also known as
Internet balkanisation, Cyberbalkanisation
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