David J. Farber, known as the 'grandfather of the Internet,' has died at age 91 in Tokyo. The pioneering computer scientist passed away suddenly on February 7, 2026, at his home in Roppongi. Farber's career spanned decades of technological innovation, beginning with his education at Stevens Institute of Technology and his work at Bell Labs during its heyday.

Farber's impact extended far beyond his technical contributions. He served as Chief Technologist of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and was an active board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. His students at UC Irvine, University of Delaware, University of Pennsylvania, and Carnegie Mellon University went on to make foundational contributions to the Internet's development. In 2018, at age 83, Farber moved to Japan to become Distinguished Professor at Keio University and Co-Director of the Keio Cyber Civilization Research Center.

At CCRC, Farber co-hosted the IP-Asia online gathering every Monday for over five years, exploring technology's impact on civilization. He taught his final class on January 22, 2026, and thrived in Japan in every way. The IP-Asia community will gather for an online remembrance on February 9, 2026, at 2100 JST. Farber is survived by his son Manny, daughter-in-law Mei Xu, daughter-in-law Carol Hagan, and grandsons Nate and Sam Farber. He was preceded in death by his wife Gloria and son Joe.