Understood: Who Broke the Internet?
Episode: Ctrl, Ctrl, Ctrl
Release Date: May 12, 2025
Host: Cory Doctorow

Cory Doctorow’s episode, "Ctrl, Ctrl, Ctrl," delves deep into the mechanisms and policies that have led to the current degraded state of the internet, a phenomenon he terms "enshittification." Tracing the roots from the optimistic early days of the internet to today’s congested digital landscape, Doctorow examines pivotal moments and key figures that have shaped the online world. This summary encapsulates the episode’s essential discussions, insights, and conclusions, enriched with notable quotes and timestamps for reference.

1. Introduction to "Enshittification" and the DMCA

[00:01 – 05:09]

Doctorow opens the episode by introducing the concept of "enshittification," a term he coined to describe the internet's transformation from a promising, open platform to a fragmented, commercialized space riddled with intrusive ads, trolling, and aggressive algorithms. The backbone of this decay is partially attributed to legislative actions, notably the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

Notable Quote:

Cory Doctorow [04:50]: "When big tech does something to enshittify a product or platform you rely on, you’re defenseless and you can’t disenthissify the services you rely on, not without risking serious civil and criminal penalties."

2. The DMCA and Dmitry Sklyarov’s Arrest

[05:09 – 21:38]

The episode recounts the landmark case of Dmitry Sklyarov, a Russian programmer who became one of the first individuals prosecuted under the DMCA's Section 1201. Sklyarov developed software that could bypass Adobe’s ebook encryption, allowing users to transfer ebooks across devices—something Adobe’s restrictive DRM policies prevented.

Notable Quotes:

Cory Doctorow [03:37]: "Dmitry was charged under a subsection you might never have heard of, but you experience it every time you use the Internet. DMCA Section 1201..."

Pam Samuelson [07:28]: "And so he kind of knew what their preferences were and he knew what they were afraid of."

The episode highlights the aggressive stance of the entertainment and software industries in enforcing digital locks, often at the expense of user freedoms and technological innovation. The case against Sklyarov underscored the DMCA's broad and punitive measures against even legitimate security research and software development.

Notable Quote:

Pam Samuelson [20:10]: "The criminal offense is any person who violates 1201 willfully and for purposes of commercial advantage or private gain shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned for not more than five years or both."

3. Legislative Maneuvers and Corporate Interests

[06:07 – 19:51]

Doctorow explores the origins of Section 1201, tracing it back to the mid-1990s initiatives led by Vice President Al Gore under the Clinton administration. The discussion reveals how Bruce Lehman, then Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, influenced the DMCA to favor corporate interests, especially those of the entertainment industry, by embedding strict anti-circumvention provisions.

Notable Quotes:

Bruce Lehman [09:23]: "Most of the 220some years of our copyright law were times in which in order to copy someone's work on any kind of significant scale, you had to have a printing press."

Cory Doctorow [13:12]: "The idea was that companies wouldn't sell you an ebook. They'd sell you access to a key to unlock an ebook."

Lehman’s strategy included leveraging international treaties through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), aiming to cement these restrictive measures globally, thereby limiting any resistance from legislative bodies once the policies were set.

Notable Quote:

Cory Doctorow [19:33]: "That's what he wanted. He wanted the diplomatic conference to adopt his thing, and then for him to come back to Congress and just say, hey, you know, you don't have any choice, because we've negotiated this, and it's now the world standard."

4. The Aftermath of Sklyarov’s Case and Continued DMCA Enforcement

[21:38 – 27:20]

Despite Dmitry Sklyarov’s eventual release after public outcry and the dropping of charges against his employer, Elkhomsoft, the episode emphasizes that the DMCA’s reach continued to suppress innovation and restrict user freedoms. The chilling effect of Section 1201 extended beyond Sklyarov’s case, deterring developers and activists from creating tools that could challenge corporate monopolies or enhance user experiences.

Notable Quote:

Pam Samuelson [27:00]: "There are many tools that could have been developed and that would have had beneficial uses for the public that really are not available because of 1201."

Doctorow illustrates this broader impact with the 2022 incident involving teenagers Ansh Nanda and Hardik Patil, who developed the OG app—a tool designed to restore Instagram’s original, ad-free feed experience. Despite its rapid popularity, Meta swiftly removed the app through pressure on Apple and Google, showcasing the ongoing dominance of big tech in regulating and stifling alternative platforms.

Notable Quote:

Cory Doctorow [24:13]: "You just want a nice clean Instagram like it used to be... Meta didn't even need to take the OG app to court and challenge them with a 1201 violation. Apple and Google took care of that for them."

5. The "Enshittification" of the Internet

[27:20 – 28:25]

In the closing segments, Doctorow connects the enforcement of the DMCA’s restrictive measures to the broader trend of "enshittification." He argues that digital platforms lure users with convenience and value but ultimately entrap them through mechanisms that prioritize corporate profits over user experience and freedom. This results in a monopolized internet where alternatives are suppressed, and user choice is severely limited.

Notable Quote:

Cory Doctorow [27:20]: "Digital platforms lure you in. They build good products that are convenient, affordable, and deliver real value. But the point is to trap you so they can make things worse for you, to make things better for them."

The episode concludes with a critical reflection on the unchecked power of big tech companies and the legislative frameworks that empower them to maintain this dominance, leaving users with few viable alternatives.

Conclusion and Future Outlook

"Ctrl, Ctrl, Ctrl" serves as a compelling exploration of how legislative decisions, corporate interests, and technological controls have collectively "broken" the internet. By highlighting pivotal moments like Dmitry Sklyarov’s case and the suppression of the OG app, Doctorow underscores the ongoing struggle between user freedom and corporate control. The episode calls for a reevaluation of existing policies and a concerted effort to reclaim the internet’s original promise of openness and innovation.

Production Credits: Written and produced by Matt Muse, A.C. Rowe, and Cory Doctorow. Featuring contributions from CBC, DEFCON, KPIX TV, Santa Clara University School of Law, and more. Mixing and sound design by Julian Uzieli. Executive Producer: Nick McCabe.

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