Different systems for quality control of information on the internet, ranging from present state of uncontrolled information to an unrealistic and undesirable state of full centralised control of information. In between are two decentralised filtering approaches: the present “upstream filtering” approach, and a possible future “downstream filtering” approach supported by software
| Uncontrolled, raw information | Intermediate state of labelled or filtered information (“bottom up” quality control) | Centrally controlled information (“top down” quality control) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present system | Possible future system | |||
| Quality control | None | Decentralised control by a few third parties | Decentralised control by many third parties and users | Central control |
| Quality criteria | None | Set by third parties | Set by users | Set by central institution |
| Structure | Anarchic | In principle anarchic, but with option for users to take guidance by selecting rating services | In principle anarchic, but with option for users to take guidance by letting software automatically consult multiple rating services | Governed structure |
| Data | Raw data | Data evaluated by third party | Data labelled (categorised, rated, weighted) by author or third party, or both | Data edited or controlled |
| Filtering | None, unimpeded rivers of data | Upstream filtering by third parties (review services). Users cannot influence selection criteria | Downstream filtering by users and collaborative filtering. Users define selection criteria | Upstream filtering imposed by central body (such as government). Filtering criteria set by third party |
| Control of information | Chaotic, anarchic state with information of unclear quality | Information evaluated by third parties | High quality information easy to find. Data rated, labelled, and weighted according to users' criteria | “Censored” information |