Net Neutrality
According to the TechPresident article, “Who will be America’s First TechPresident,” we must “declare a ‘Net Neutrality‘ standard forbidding Internet service providers from discriminating among content based on origin, application, or type.”
The article says, “companies that provide access to the Internet should not be allowed to provide content and services where they will be able to prefer their own over what is available from others.” This concept is necessary for the future of the Internet, as people will increasingly seek to make a profit. It is important to maintain the free flow of information that characterizes the Internet as a medium for expression and communication.
According to SavetheInternet.com, “Net neutrality is the reason why the Internet has driven economic innovation, democratic participation, and free speech online. It protects the consumer’s right to use any equipment, content, application, or service on a non-discriminatory basis without interference from the network provider.” If Internet service providers were able to choose the content of their Internet service, it opens doors for the kind of regulation and restriction of expression that we want to avoid.
However, it is also important for society to acknowledge that the Internet is not always a force for good. There is a lot of false information on the Internet, and people who do not use the Internet wisely may find themselves in trouble. Internet service providers should offer parental controls that block specific information such as “adult” material from children.
It is probably important to keep in mind that as the Internet continues to grow, we will face new problems regarding freedom of expression and the flow of information. Utilizing the Internet service provider as a means of regulating material that should not be available to all people will most likely be considered a viable alternative to government regulation someday.
