> We need a radically more transparent internet. We need to have the right to know whether an online account is a bot or a genuine person, whether content is organic or amplified by trolls. We need to know who is behind a "news" site.

I agree with this, but I also can't help but think policies like this would result in much smaller and less commercially-driven internet. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it wouldn't result in the type of economic growth that high-tech countries are relying upon now, which is ultimately why I don't think we'll ever see something like this happening.

There's just too much money being made by not disclosing human vs bot users to make these kinds of proposals a reality. The internet really is a commercial tool first and foremost, and there's way too much vested interest in jeopardizing that.

It’s not broken. We nerds think it is because it’s no longer just for nerds. It used to be a DnD party but now it’s a keg party. The problem is we didn’t set up guidelines when we had the chance. We made agile manifestos instead. How do we do make rules now? That’s the new tech challenge.

Eure Zeit ist abgelaufen, ein müder Haufen Mietmäuler den keiner mehr Mieten will.

Chill!

First, eliminate advertising. Next, eliminate anonymity. Next, focus on teaching things that can be taught. For one example, the old (pre .com) comp.lang Usenet forums were fantastic. For another example, Consumer Reports is a blissfully dull but useful publication. B2B commerce at least comes with contracts and credible threats of legal retaliation. Broadcast consumer marketing is fully toxic.

Does the article talk about German news websites that insist on tracking and ads?

Ah luckily their "paywall" still doesn't mess with private browsing.