For centuries access to the world's information - and the ability to communicate it - was controlled by the wealthy and the well educated. Today the internet has broken down many of the barriers that exist between people and information: effectively democratising access to human knowledge.

By typing just a few key words into a computer it is possible to find out about almost any subject. In a matter of minutes anyone can compare prices, products and policies. Not surprisingly people are using that power to buy better value goods and services, to hold others to account and, above all, to express themselves.