the potential fragmentation of the internet into effectively separate networks based on a user’s location and access, as opposed to a cohesive, universally available network. Censorship of websites by certain governments has been described as a potential first step toward splinternet, but even debates about net neutrality (the principle that an internet service providers should not determine, for example, whether users have access to certain content based on how much the users can pay) within a single country play a part.