As you can see, this structure parallels the existing geopolitical structure.
All telecommunications infrastructure has followed similar patterns. (…)
Current EU policy pretends to be neutral in this way, but in fact it is supporting the growth of English as a contact language in EU communications policy.
*Interview of July 25, 1999
= What has happened since our 1998 interview?
The nature of the Internet has changed dramatically in the last two years. It is no longer possible to speak of idealistic social or political effects: the Net is entirely commercialised. I find this entirely predictable. I have always described the Internet as a liberal structure, a market of information. It is logical that it is now commercialised.
It is often said the Internet is now like television. Certainly the content is determined by market forces and is increasingly split into very large sites with huge quantities of information. In some ways, these are like television channels, but the metaphor is not completely accurate.
= How do you see the growth of a multilingual Web?
The future multilingualism of the Net will be determined by market forces. At present there's no political will to enforce multilingualism. But it is in the commercial interest of the content providers to have material in local languages. At least in Europe. For small languages in Africa, there is no market potential.
= What is your best experience with the Internet?
I have no illusions about the Internet. I can't remember any positive exception to that.