How essential is a globally open Internet to public well-being? Daniel Weitzner addresses this and related questions regarding Internet policy. The Internet provides many people open access to public information on practically anything without ever leaving home. So why do some governments put limitations on the Internet, and why are some people concerned for their privacy? Integral to this question is the relationship of the Internet to national governments.

According to Weitzner, the White House believes that unrestricted Internet growth makes 2.6 new jobs for every one job it makes redundant. For the US Government, the ability of the Internet to function as an open platform, both in the US and around the world, is a question of jobs and global competitiveness. It also opens the door to knowledge and inventions, and it can increase trust in a nation's government.

Weitzner addresses the fear of losing privacy, and the growing trust gap in the world since people started worrying about who is looking out for their interests in the Internet environment. For example, a quarter of a million Germans, in order to protect their privacy, wanted pictures of their houses to be blurred in Google street view—this became known as "the right to be pixelated." Weitzner says there are also other examples beyond that to be taken into account.

Regarding the suggestion that Internet regulation should be handed over to the United Nations, Weitzner asserts there is no need for that—because the industries in this space are already starting to cooperate with each other in the better interest of the public. Weitzner further provides his insights into possible new styles of Internet regulation, and his perspective on international Internet governance.