The Iris

The Iris is the digital network employed by the Solar Union and many Brinkers for communication, entertainment, and countless other purposes. Accessed via Link, the Iris is near-universally available in Union habitats and ships. The Iris itself exists in both augmented reality and virtual reality formats, though all but the most dedicated work in AR only.
The Iris itself is less secure than the front the Union puts up. While Iris security is strong enough to hold up to the "script kiddies" of old, those with talent, sufficiently powerful hardware, or both can still break through the systems in place. Once there, the subversion that can take place is extensive, and letting down one's barriers only invites worse damages upon one's own mind. In a society with masses of people operating in augmented reality, modifications to perception and even to one's way of thinking can propagate rapidly and cause massive damage. As a result, Iris security is heavily policed by Union agents versed in cyberwarfare, and those who act against the populace are treated as terrorists.