Telematics and the Early History of International Digital Information Flows

The origins of telematics and the early history of international information flows is recounted. As a result of post-World War II efforts to encourage the free flow of data in the service of peacemaking and economic growth, the computer utility, distributed data processing services, and the post-industrial information society were born. Hand in hand with these developments emerged political and technical difficulties of data protection, network and national sovereignty, and identity. Interconnection and high-velocity information sharing encouraged culturally ingrained expectations of flow at work and in life. It also destabilized the national security, international relationships, and global commerce.