Things like security, that should fall outside the realm of competition, are things that are becoming the basis for competition … I prefer one security standard. Some combination of Netscape Communications Corp. and Microsoft could best pull that off.
The big idea is the development of an electronic model of each reader. Using this model, information can be filtered or directed to a reader. This model can be built with the readers’ help or by electronically observing behaviors in the relevant markets.
Newspapers will know much more about their readers, most of whom will be happy to share that information. So, instead of advertising to all the readers of a newspaper, companies will pay to speak only to those readers intending right then to buy their products. This will be more economical for publishers and advertisers and more welcome by readers.
Advertising, especially as it becomes more targeted, will increasingly be seen by readers as news.
The broadcast of newspaper information [will be] at 20Mb per second at night over TV channels, with filtering done close to the reader. In fact, as newspapers go electronic, the editing function will move toward the reader.
The idea of the monolithic online service is over, and the Internet industry is being split up.
Because machines holding data are widely networked, and owned and operated by many different organizations, it will not be possible for an individual to inspect all the data held in computers about him or her … Current data-protection legislation is a relic of the old mainframe era … It’s not a case of governments taking control. Broadcasting is centralized and amenable to that. But the networks are interactive and put tremendous processing and computer power at every node. You can’t keep the lid on that.
To ensure people in info-businesses obtain fair recompense for the intellectual property they create, we will need agreements on the use of suitable security technology capable of monitoring and auditing the progress of electronic objects on the Internet, which in turn will need new technical standards and might possibly need new forms of business contracts as well.
Information networks allow for electronic distribution and production at the point of use. That is going to reduce retail distribution. Long-term, the potential of information networks will be to reduce the provision of physical goods and services … Most European countries have huge budget deficits and aging populations. Governments need to continue to raise revenues. It’s inconceivable it [the information network] will remain immune from providing a tax base.
Almost every market you can conceive of will work far more efficiently because it will be mediated electronically. You are talking about something that is very fundamental.