5. Freedom versus regulation on the Internet

Even though most Internet users are essentially confident that they can make a good assessment of the dangers and risks associated with the Internet and therefore wish to use the Internet with complete freedom and absent of any restrictions, both the majority of Internet users and the majority of the population as a whole are convinced that the state should impose certain regulations for website providers and should ensure that they are upheld. 61 % of both Internet users and the population as a whole believe that this is the responsibility of the state, while 19 % of the population and 23 % of Internet users do not see it as a duty of the state. Of those who use the Internet most frequently and with a particularly wide spectrum of use, only just over a quarter are convinced that no state regulations are required for online content providers.

Most people believe that state regulations are necessary

Most people believe that state regulations are necessary

The support for demands to impose more stringent controls on the Internet in light of the large amount of dubious content, and to prohibit certain content under particular circumstances, is slightly more reserved. However, this too is supported by a clear majority; 57 % of the population and 54 % of Internet users agree with more stringent control and regulation of Internet content. 27 % of the population and 32 % of Internet users reject this idea with the comment that individuals themselves are responsible for which online services and websites they use.

The case for more stringent Internet controls

The case for more stringent Internet controls

Opinions between the different user groups in relation to more stringent control of online content and the importance of personal responsibility differ substantially. However, even among those who use the Internet most regularly and with a particularly wide spectrum of use, the majority are in favour of strengthening controls, although this majority is a lot smaller than among those people who use the Internet comparatively rarely. Around half of those who use the Internet several times per day are in favour of more stringent controls, whereas this figure increases to three quarters for those who use the Internet only rarely. Conversely, 38 % of intensive users emphasise that the use of online services should be the sole responsibility of the individual. Of those who use the Internet only rarely, merely 13 % share this opinion. We acquire a similar impression when considering the spectrum of Internet use. People with a wide spectrum of use are far more frequently opposed to greater stringency in the control of online content than those who use relatively few online services. Naturally, therefore, they are far more prone to mention the importance of personal responsibility. Support for more stringent controls is also influenced largely by the extent to which people feel confident in making their own assessment of the dangers and risks associated with the Internet; there is far above-average support for more stringent controls among those users who feel a certain degree of uncertainty here.

Varying degrees of support for more stringent controls among different user groups

Varying degrees of support for more stringent controls among different user groups

There are widespread doubts as to whether and to what extent it would even be feasible to control and monitor the Internet. Just 37 % of Internet users think that effective controls would be possible, 49 % explicitly mention their doubts in this respect, and the rest do not feel equipped to judge. Also, 43 % of those in favour of more stringent control of Internet content are sceptical in this regard, while 41 % of this group are confident that effective controls can be successfully put in place.

The majority have doubts about whether effective monitoring would be feasible

The majority have doubts about whether effective monitoring would be feasible

There is a broad consensus with regard to the need for cross-national regulations, entirely irrespective of whether the person expressing the opinion is in favour of, or opposes, more stringent state controls. Not even one in ten people expects purely national measures and regulations to have any effect; 72 % are convinced that regulations can only be effective if they are consistently implemented on an international level.

National regulations alone are considered less effective

National regulations alone are considered less effective

Large parts of the population and the Internet users have no more than vague notions of the extent to which the state is active in this field and what control it exercises. 49 % of the population as a whole and 45 % of Internet users do not feel confident to judge whether the state so far has exercised too much or too little control and regulation of the Internet. Those who do express a concrete opinion tend to point to failures. Around a third of both the population as a whole and the Internet users criticise insufficient state commitment in this area, with a minority believing that the frequency with which the state has intervened on the Internet to date has been excessive. Only 7 % of Internet users share this opinion. Even those who use the Internet most frequently and with a particularly wide spectrum of use do not provide a more critical response to this question.

General uncertainty relating to the extent of state intervention

General uncertainty relating to the extent of state intervention

At the same time, there is the worry that freedom on the Internet could be threatened by the state, for instance if it were to monitor the behaviour of citizens online. Around one in two users rate this risk as considerable or even very considerable, whereas only 6 % do not view this as any cause for concern. However, the concerns that providers of search engines or online shops no longer display the entire content, and instead predominantly show only content that is tailored to the user’s specific profile, are far more frequent. Two thirds of Internet users are convinced that this poses a great threat to freedom on the Internet, while not even one in five rate this risk as fairly low.

Risks in terms of freedom on the Internet

Risks in terms of freedom on the Internet

Even though many Internet users believe that state activities pose a threat to freedom on the Internet, and that the practice among companies of tailoring individual services towards specific target groups is an even greater risk, up to now only very few Internet users feel that this has led to greater restrictions of freedom on the Internet. When considering changes observed over recent years, those who have noticed any changes at all tend to see them in a predominantly positive light; 35 % of Internet users believe that freedom on the Internet has increased, while just 11 % believe that it has decreased somewhat. 36 % have not seen any changes. Particularly regular users of the Internet with an above-average range of applications share this view, also.

Only very few people believe that restrictions on freedom have increased

Only very few people believe that restrictions on freedom have increased