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Ether-based AIs developed to search, collect and collate information from various public networks. Due to security concerns and a general fears about AIs in general, strict laws on the capacity of FADAPs were passed.
FADAPs are actually marvels of programming. The best of them can transverse numerous types of networks, adapt themselves to various operating systems and architectures by ingenious means of self-adaption. While early FADAPs were usually strictly limited, abuse was natural, and on many occasions high-security and private networks were penetrated.
FADAPs don't necessarily have to be the most intelligent AIs. In fact, a key trait of any successful "species" of FADAPs is a relatively small footprint, thus allowing for faster access to networks.
Some individual FADAPs are centuries old. One FADAP, sadly destroyed during the Hundred Bloody Days, was called Ernie Eleven, and claimed to have dated back to the First Expanse.
During the reign of Quanna Dabrian II, a particularly self-adaptive species of FADAPs was developed by at Klister University. This species soon began evolve at a rapid rate, able to pierce everything from portable wrist-worn MigarComm computers to interstellar vessels. It was never truly brought under control, and has propogated itself on the Ether ever since.
Finally, the Imperial Congress passed a series of laws banning highly-adaptive FADAPs, forcing programmers to put programmed signatures on all FADAPs and instituting an entire department to monitoring FADAPs. Naturally, this has not prevented abuse. Security companies, and even government-based agencies, regularly flaunt the rules.
Of greatest concern for security experts and ethicists are the very new technologies allowing for a whole new class of FADAPs, the Imprinted Personality.
