Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the US

The internet, invented by US scientists, has no central point of control. More users are emerging beyond US borders and shaping the system: The US has less than 5 percent of the world’s population, but is responsible for about 25 percent of all internet traffic while Asia represents about 40 percent of all internet traffic. As a result, more internet data flow outside the US, explains John Markoff for the New York Times, reporting, “China and India are making larger investments in next-generation Internet technology that is likely to be crucial in determining the future of the network, with investment, innovation and profits going first to overseas companies.” Recent disruptions in service, after damage to undersea cables, have convinced countries to diversify their internet connections, updating infrastructure and adding alternatives to US routes. US officials express concern about losing a competitive edge in collecting intelligence, while privacy advocates contend that worries about spying spurred a deliberate avoidance of US routes. – YaleGlobal