Could California soon have its own version of the internet? A series of laws passed this year raise that possibility. A privacy law, a net neutrality law and a law that requires bots to identify themselves have all led analysts to wonder if various states will splinter off and form their own versions of the internet.
Regulations and laws in many other countries already limit or modify internet service. A study by the Tor project says at least a dozen countries including Pakistan, Russia and the EU already censor areas of the internet and China has its own system that blocks 1000 of the most popular internet sites. Legal analysts say its more likely national legislation will come as industry complaints rise over facing a patchwork of laws.