The unsung heroes of the internet and the opportunity Turkey missed

The internet, which has permeated every fiber of our lives from cables to screens, is actually the work of an invisible agreement. This seamless communication, occurring between devices of different brands and through service providers that do not even know each other, is not a miracle; it is the product of a well-intentioned mind. That mind is called: standards. And questioning who sets these standards is equivalent to questioning Turkey's digital future.

WHAT ARE STANDARDS FOR?

The fact that an email sent from an iPhone can be opened without issues in a Gmail account on an HP laptop... Or that a WordPress site can load the same way on both Safari and Chrome... All of this is possible thanks to internet standards that are accepted voluntarily. These standards are not determined by government force, nor by the imposition of a single company. On the contrary, they are determined through a multi-stakeholder, bottom-up structure that looks out for the common good.

WHO SETS THESE STANDARDS?

Organizations such as the IAB, IRTF, and W3C, led by the IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) and the RFCs (Request for Comments) it publishes, write these universal rules. None of these structures have a direct connection to governments or global tech giants. Scientists, engineers, and developers come together to brainstorm and debate, and then rules are written that no one is forced to follow, but everyone wants to follow.

This system proves to us that common benefit can be created without imposition.

WHERE IS TURKEY?

This is exactly where we should feel a bit disheartened. In Turkey, when people say "standard," they still think of the "TSE certificate." Or worse: regulations dictated by the state, orders from the BTK, or technologies approved by specific groups. Yet, the world has moved far beyond that. Today, millions of people around the world are sitting at digital tables to discuss how the internet can be safer, fairer, and more accessible. Turkey is not at this table. Neither is a Turkish engineer's name mentioned in RFCs, nor does Turkish academia contribute to accessibility standards like WCAG.

Moreover, there is something worse: even in its own domestic market, concepts like interoperability are not given the necessary importance. Even government agency websites are sometimes built to work only on a single browser. Accessibility? Just a formality. Yet these standards are not just about technology; they are also a matter of ethics, inclusivity, and a vision for the future.

WHAT ARE WE LOSING?

Not being at this table means not just failing to produce technology; it means agreeing to play in a game where others set the rules. We are forced to rely on solutions we get from outside instead of producing our own network security standards. By not adopting accessibility standards, we exclude millions of our disabled citizens from digital life. We become a country that is directed rather than one that directs the world in data security.

WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?

Turkey should actively contribute to the organizations that develop standards.

Universities and engineering departments should train their students not just as software developers, but as standard developers.

Public institutions should include a clause for compliance with universal standards in the technical specifications of every tender.

NGOs should be advocates for the protection of an open internet and the multi-stakeholder governance model.

And perhaps most importantly: Turkey must learn that volunteerism can also be a strategy.

CONCLUSION

The secret power that runs the internet is not billions of dollars, but common sense. Every standard developed and every RFC shared is a contribution to humanity's digital common life. Turkey being a part of this structure is more valuable than producing technology. Because producing is not enough; one must be among those who change the game.

Otherwise, we will continue to use the devices, but others will always write the rules of the game.