The Splinternet Accelerates
Techno-Nationalism and the Era of Exclusion (2019-2024)
"The era of the global, open internet is over. We are now witnessing the emergence of competing digital spheres of influence, each with its own infrastructure, standards, and values.
The Fractured Digital Landscape
"Blue" Stack
US & Allies
- Clean Network Initiative
- Wintel/Android Ecosystem
- AWS/Azure/Google Cloud
- Five Eyes Intelligence
"Red" Stack
China & Belt & Road
- Digital Silk Road
- BAT Ecosystem
- Huawei 5G Infrastructure
- New IP Proposal
Regulatory Bloc
EU, India, Emerging Markets
- GDPR & DSA Framework
- Data Localization Laws
- Digital Sovereignty
- Multi-alignment Strategy
Timeline of Fragmentation
Executive Order 13873
President Trump declares national emergency over foreign adversary threats to ICT supply chain. Sets stage for Huawei ban.
Huawei's "New IP" Proposal
Submitted to ITU, proposing redesigned internet protocol with "intrinsic security"—criticized as enabling surveillance.
Russia's Sovereign Internet Law
"Runet" autonomy law takes effect, mandating TSPU installation and annual disconnect tests.
Clean Network Initiative
Secretary Pompeo announces five-layer framework to exclude "untrusted" Chinese vendors from global networks.
India's "Digital Strike"
59 Chinese apps banned under Section 69A following Galwan Valley clash. TikTok, WeChat removed from Indian market.
EU Digital Services Act
Landmark regulation establishing platform accountability, content moderation standards, and algorithmic transparency.
Iran's Starlink Blackout
National Information Network achieves electromagnetic spectrum sovereignty, blocking Starlink during protests.
The "Clean Network" Initiative
On August 5, 2020, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the expansion of the Clean Network program, a comprehensive effort to safeguard America's sensitive information from "aggressive intrusions by malign actors, such as the Chinese Communist Party."
"The Clean Network program is the Trump Administration's comprehensive approach to guarding our citizens' privacy and our companies' most sensitive information from aggressive intrusions by malign actors, such as the Chinese Communist Party."
Executive Order 13873 (May 2019)
Declared a national emergency regarding threats to information and communications technology and services (ICTS) supply chain. Authorized Commerce Secretary to prohibit transactions involving foreign adversary technology.
Five Layers of Network Security
Clean Carrier
Ensure untrusted PRC carriers are not connected with US telecommunications networks
Clean Store
Remove untrusted applications from US mobile app stores (TikTok, WeChat)
Clean Apps
Prevent untrusted PRC smartphone manufacturers from pre-installing trusted apps
Clean Cloud
Prevent US citizens' most sensitive personal information and businesses' valuable intellectual property from being stored on cloud-based systems accessible to foreign adversaries
Clean Cable
Ensure undersea cables connecting US to global internet are not subverted for intelligence gathering by PRC at hyper-scale
The Huawei 5G Dilemma
The Clean Network directly targeted Huawei's dominance in 5G infrastructure. By 2020, Huawei had secured 91 commercial 5G contracts globally. The US pressured allies to exclude Huawei, creating a bifurcation: countries choosing "Blue" (Nokia, Ericsson) vs "Red" (Huawei, ZTE) 5G infrastructure. This division extends beyond telecommunications into AI, cloud computing, and semiconductor supply chains.
Battle for the ITU
The "New IP" Proposal
In 2019, Huawei, China Unicom, and China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology submitted a proposal to the ITU-T (International Telecommunication Union - Telecommunication Standardization Sector) for a "New IP" architecture. The proposal aimed to redesign the internet protocol stack for the 5G and IoT era.
Core Arguments
- Current TCP/IP lacks "intrinsic security"
- Need for deterministic routing and quality of service
- Centralized control for "stability"
Intrinsic Security vs Intrinsic Surveillance
Proponents View
Built-in authentication and traceability protect against cyberattacks and criminal activity
Critics View
Enables state surveillance, breaks end-to-end principle, creates kill switches
Diplomatic Mobilization
Coordinated campaign at ITU to block New IP standardization
Advocated for multistakeholder governance over state-controlled standards
Many African and Asian nations supported Chinese proposals due to infrastructure investments
ITU Voting Dynamics (2020)
"The New IP proposal represents a fundamental shift from the multistakeholder model that has governed the internet for decades toward a multilateral, state-controlled approach."
The "Digital Strike"
Following deadly clashes in the Galwan Valley that killed 20 Indian soldiers, the Indian government invoked Section 69A of the Information Technology Act to ban 59 Chinese mobile applications, citing threats to "sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order."
Key Banned Applications
Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000
Empowers the government to block public access to any information online if it deems it necessary in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of the state, friendly relations with foreign states, or public order. The provision has been used increasingly since 2020, with over 300 apps banned by 2024.
Economic Aftermath: The Rise of Indian Alternatives
Regional language platform, 180M+ users
Short video, 160M+ downloads
VerSe Innovation, 150M+ users
Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts
Impact Statistics
Apps Banned (June 2020)
Total Apps Banned (by 2024)
Estimated TikTok India Value
Expansion Timeline
Sovereign Internet Law
The "Runet" Autonomy Vision
Signed into law by President Putin in May 2019 and effective November 2019, the Sovereign Internet Law (Federal Law No. 90-FZ) mandates the creation of a national domain name system and requires ISPs to install government-provided equipment to enable centralized control and filtering of internet traffic.
Mirror root DNS servers for .ru and .рф domains
Technical Means to Counter Threats - deep packet inspection
Mandatory "disconnect tests" to verify Runet autonomy
Annual "Disconnect Tests"
Tests simulate disconnecting from global internet while maintaining domestic connectivity
TSPU: Technical Means to Combat Threats
• Installed at all ISP exchange points
• Enables real-time traffic analysis
• Can block VPNs, Tor, and proxy services
• Centralized control via Roskomnadzor
From Filtering to Survivability
Russia's approach evolved from simple content blocking (starting with the 2012 "Internet Blacklist" law) toward complete network survivability. The 2019 law represents a paradigm shift: not just controlling what citizens can access, but ensuring the Russian internet can function independently of global infrastructure.
National Information Network
The "Halal Internet" Vision
Iran's National Information Network (NIN), also called the "National Internet" or "Halal Internet," represents one of the most comprehensive attempts to create a parallel, state-controlled internet infrastructure. First proposed in 2005 and progressively implemented, the NIN aims to provide domestic users with government-approved content while maintaining the ability to completely sever connections to the global internet.
2024: The Starlink Blackout
During nationwide protests in 2024, Iran demonstrated the maturity of its NIN by successfully blocking Starlink satellite internet services—previously considered unblockable. This represented a new frontier in electromagnetic spectrum sovereignty.
Counter-Starlink Measures
- Directional jamming of satellite frequencies
- Detection and seizure of user terminals
- Criminalization of terminal possession
NIN Architecture
Controlled chokepoints - can be severed instantly
Deep packet inspection, keyword filtering, protocol blocking
Domestic search, email, messaging, video platforms
Access to approved domestic content only during lockdowns
Electromagnetic Spectrum Sovereignty
Iran's NIN represents a claim to sovereignty not just over fiber and data centers, but over the electromagnetic spectrum itself. By deploying advanced jamming technology and criminalizing circumvention devices, Iran asserts state control over all information entering its territory.
"The National Information Network ensures that even when the international internet is cut off, Iranian citizens can continue to access essential domestic services."
The Triple Stack Reality
By 2024, the global digital infrastructure had crystallized into three competing technology stacks, each with distinct hardware, software, and regulatory frameworks.
US Stack
"Blue Internet"China Stack
"Red Internet"Regulatory Bloc
"Sovereign Internet"Stack Comparison Matrix
| Dimension | US Stack | China Stack | Regulatory Bloc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governance Model | Multistakeholder | State-controlled | Regulatory state |
| Data Flow | Cross-border free | Restricted/controlled | Conditional flows |
| Content Policy | Platform-mediated | State-censored | Legally regulated |
| Infrastructure | Private-led | State-subsidized | Mixed ownership |
| AI Development | Open research | State-directed | Risk-regulated |
Stage Set for AI Sovereignty
By 2024, the fragmentation of the internet into three competing stacks created the foundation for the next phase: AI Sovereignty. Each bloc began developing its own AI models, training data, and compute infrastructure—extending the splinternet from connectivity and platforms into the realm of artificial intelligence. The battle for GPT, Gemini, and their Chinese counterparts represents the next frontier in digital geopolitics.
The Splinternet by Numbers
Countries in Clean Network
Apps Banned by India
Huawei 5G Contracts (2020)
TikTok India Market Value
Iranians on NIN (2024)
Competing Digital Stacks
Sources & References
[1] US Department of State. "Announcing the Expansion of the Clean Network to Safeguard America's Assets." August 5, 2020.
[2] Executive Order 13873. "Securing the Information and Communications Technology and Services Supply Chain." May 15, 2019.
[3] Huawei, China Unicom. "New IP: A New Internet Protocol for the Future." ITU-T SG13 Contribution, 2019.
[4] Internet Society. "The New IP: Perspectives and Concerns." 2020.
[5] Ministry of Electronics and IT, India. "Press Release on Blocking of Mobile Applications." June 29, 2020.
[6] Federal Law No. 90-FZ, Russian Federation. "On Amendments to the Federal Law on Communications." May 1, 2019.
[7] Tseliakhovich, D. "Russia's Sovereign Internet Law: Technical Implementation." CTC Sentinel, 2020.
[8] Information Technology Organization of Iran. "National Information Network Report." 2023.
[9] Khanna, P. "The Future is Asian." Simon & Schuster, 2021.