The Consequences of Free Trade in Information Flows

Information transforms and empowers. Too much information paralyses and enervates. Information misused deprives us of our privacy and security. The dilemma posed by the free flow of information is that even as we are dazzled by the wealth of new data at our command and drawn closer to one another by an emerging global information network, we are increasingly bogged down and unable to act. The challenge to users and to society is to make it possible for individuals to locate, identify and use information efficiently without drowning in the deluge of data or infringing on the privacy or security of individuals, firms or states.