Who controls the internet?

+ grief and loss after the pandemic US Edition - Today's top story: Fight for control threatens to destabilize and fragment the internet [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 July 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair The internet often seems like it’s just there. Sure, your internet service provider might occasionally give you headaches, but the internet as a whole isn’t anything to worry about, right? Doomsday scenarios aside, there is a struggle underway for control of the internet, and one of the consequences is a growing risk that the global internet will fragment and suffer widespread outages. University of California, Berkeley’s Nick Merrill [lays out the big picture]( of who has the upper hand today, who’s trying to gain control and what it means for the future of the internet. Also today: - [How to travel with kids too young for vaccines]( - [Studies link COVID-19 to male infertility]( - [Novels to read to understand Haitian politics]( Eric Smalley Science and Technology Editor Today's newsletter supported by [MarketWatch]( International power plays are a threat to a stable, open internet. erhui1979/DigitalVision Vectors via Getty Images [Fight for control threatens to destabilize and fragment the internet]( Nick Merrill, University of California, Berkeley The US is wrestling with the rest of the world for control of the internet. The ‘net as we know it could be a victim of the struggle. Health - [Worried about traveling with unvaccinated kids? 6 questions answered on how to manage the risks]( William C. Miller, The Ohio State University Parents face tough choices since young kids can’t yet get COVID-19 vaccinations. An infectious diseases expert offers guidance on navigating summer activities. - [COVID-19 could cause male infertility and sexual dysfunction – but vaccines do not]( Ranjith Ramasamy, University of Miami New studies show men who have had COVID-19 could face serious reproductive health issues. - [Kids’ grip strength is improving, but other measures of muscle fitness are getting worse]( Grant R. Tomkinson, University of North Dakota; Justin J. Lang, L’Université d’Ottawa/University of Ottawa Overall muscle fitness among children and teens hasn’t declined over the past several decades, but by some measures it’s not improving, either. - [What is HIPAA? 5 questions answered about the medical privacy law that protects Trump’s test results and yours]( Margaret Riley, University of Virginia A health law expert explains what the regulation does and doesn't protect. Arts + Culture - [4 Haitian novels that beautifully blend history, memory and reality]( Marlene Daut, University of Virginia Confronted with centuries of exploitation by their country’s ruling class and foreign powers, Haitian writers warn against the impulse to seek solace in outside intervention or cynical humor. Ethics + Religion - [Joy and grief will coexist as Americans return to pre-pandemic life – ‘everyday memorials’ will help]( David Sloane, University of Southern California Many people are starting to celebrate the return to a pre-pandemic life. How does that feel to those who have suffered losses and are still grieving? Economy + Business - [What is unrestricted funding? Two philanthropy experts explain]( Genevieve Shaker, IUPUI; Pamala Wiepking, IUPUI Nonprofits rarely get money they are free to spend on any purpose. Science + Technology - [We created a tool to help predict COVID-19 increases in African countries]( Steven J. Schiff, Penn State; Andrew Geronimo, Penn State; Claudio Fronterre, Lancaster University; Paddy Ssentongo, Penn State Policymakers need to make sense of the data so as to predict and manage what's happening. To address this need, we developed a visualisation tool to track and predict country-level COVID-19 cases. - [Why does gravity pull us down and not up?]( Mario Borunda, Oklahoma State University Gravity is something every person on Earth intuitively understands: It is what keeps you on the ground. But how come gravity pulls down, rather than pushes up? Einstein came up with the answer. Education - [Sexual harassment cases at school: Appeals court ruling could change how schools judge complaints]( Scott F. Johnson, Concord Law School A recent ruling makes it harder for schools to ignore claims about sexual harassment or assault. Trending on Site - [Should fully immunized people wear masks indoors? An infectious disease physician weighs in]( Peter Chin-Hong, University of California, San Francisco As Los Angeles County again mandates masking indoors – even for the fully vaccinated – local health officials in the U.S. are closely eyeing their own COVID-19 vaccination and infection rates. - [When Americans recall their roots, they open up to immigration]( Claire L. Adida, University of California San Diego; Adeline Lo, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Lauren Prather, University of California San Diego; Melina Platas, New York University Abu Dhabi; Scott Williamson, New York University Abu Dhabi Research suggests that reminding Americans – Democrats and Republicans – of their family history creates empathy for immigrants and more favorable views toward immigration. - [US is split between the vaccinated and unvaccinated – and deaths and hospitalizations reflect this divide]( Rodney E. Rohde, Texas State University; Ryan McNamara, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The US has split into "two Americas," one of the unvaccinated and one of the vaccinated. The differences in deaths and hospitalizations between the two populations are striking. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A bar graph showing the proportion of core internet services provided by U.S.-based companies by marketshare.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451