Internet pioneer dead at 70

John Barlow, widely recognised as a pioneer of freedom of speech on the Internet and digital platforms, has died at the age of 70. A report on the News24 site notes that Barlow founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) in 1990, a nonprofit organisation defending civil liberties in the digital world and championing user privacy, free expression and technology development. EFF executive director Cindy Cohn said ‘it is no exaggeration to say that major parts of the Internet we all know and love today exist and thrive because of Barlow’s vision and leadership’. The EFF said Barlow saw the Internet as a fundamental place of freedom, where voices long silenced could find an audience and people can connect with others regardless of physical distance.

Full Fin24 report