Our latest webinar features expert insights into the open web – what it is, why it matters, and how it’s evolving. Check out Developers Alliance Chair & Co-founder Jake Ward & Vivaldi Browser Technical Communication Officer Bruce Lawson’s discussion here:
Five Key Takeaways:
- The Open Web Is Built on Accessibility & Connectivity
- The open web is the idea that anyone can access or publish content online; it is limitless, decentralized, and democratized.
- The Open Web is Essential to Today’s Digital World
- Today’s open web enables communication and publishing across any device, operating system, network, or platform without licensing or proprietary barriers.
- The open web democratizes communication by allowing anyone in the world to speak to each other for practically free.
- It is also accessible to everyone, including users in low-resource settings and those with disabilities.
- Three Main Threats Exist
- Developer Practices: The overuse of heavy frameworks and poor HTML structure can harm the web’s accessibility and performance.
- AI Content Scraping: Large AI companies using web content without permission may deter creators from sharing work.
- Platform Lock-Ins: large platforms create “walled gardens” that limit browser choice and feature parity.
- Large Tech Platforms Create Barriers to the Open Web
- Powerful and resource-rich platforms pose serious threats to the open web by denying users and developers the freedom of choice for browsers, operating systems, etc.
- For example, some platforms steer users toward their own browsers through misleading warnings about alternative browsers.
- Advocacy & Direct Engagement with Policymakers is Essential to Maintain the Web’s Openness
- The software development industry represents significant economic value that governments may not fully understand without direct input from the community.
- Developers should share their real-world challenges with their representatives to influence regulations.
- Without developer input, policy decisions may unintentionally harm innovation, accessibility, and economic growth.
