On Saturday, people around the world will be celebrating OneWebDay, a global Earth Day for the Internet, according to the event’s organizer.
The idea behind OneWebDay is to urge people to reflect on the changes the Internet has made in their lives, how it should not be taken for granted and its future, said Susan Crawford, a visiting cyberlaw professor at the University of Michigan.
Users also need to understand that they’re responsible for the Internet and that they should take some action on Saturday that celebrates the positive effect the Internet has on the world while also highlighting the problems with the flow of information over the Internet and access.
Crawford said the Internet is under threat in a variety of ways. There are problems with access in developing countries, including censorship, which goes on in China and 40 other nations, she said.
“We need to ensure that the Internet used by future generations will be open and empowering — access to the Internet is central to the future of humanity,” she said in a statement.
Crawford said there will be events in several countries including Poland, Bulgaria, Belgium, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Italy, Colombia and Taiwan as well as in several U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, Boston, Austin and New York.