Reduced access,reduced choice,reduced transparency

Abstract

Information acquisition and use have been transformed by the internet. An enormous range of resources are more widely available than ever before, contributing to the perception that all information is available on the web. Many internet users complain of 'information surfeit', an inability to negotiate the vast volume of information at their fingertips. This article is a view of the trends towards reduced access to data, reduced choice, and reduced transparency threatening the flow of information access worldwide.