I think the standard techno-determinist definition of the internet is that it is a global network of computer networks operating with TCP/IP. I think this already neglects the importance of social systems/virtual communities which are social internets. Therefore I define the internet as a techno-social system consisting of a technological structure (network of computer networks, global, TCP/IP) storing and distributing knowledge and social systems of cognition, communication, and co-operation. The two systems are structurally coupled. I have published a paper on the question of how to define the internet: Fuchs, Christian (2005) The Internet as a Self-Organizing Socio-Technological System. In: Cybernetics & Human Knowing. Vol. 12, No. 3. pp. 57-81. http://cartoon.iguw.tuwien.ac.at/christian/InternetSelfOrg.pdf Christian -- _____________________________ Univ.Ass. Dr. Christian Fuchs ICT&S Center - Advanced Studies and Research in Information and Communication Technologies & Society http://www.icts.uni-salzburg.at University of Salzburg Sigmund Haffner Gasse 18 5020 Salzburg Austria christian.fuchs@sbg.ac.at Phone +43 662 8044 4823 Fax +43 662 6389 4800 Information-Society-Technology: http://cartoon.iguw.tuwien.ac.at/christian/ Managing Editor of tripleC - open access online journal for the foundations of information science: http://triplec.uti.at