Since the beginning of the internet, the topic and idea of net neutrality has been one that has been spoken about and addressed over multiple channels. Net Neutrality is the idea that Internet service providers should enable access to all content and applications regardless of the source, and without favoring or blocking particular products or websites. In theory this is what it means but if it is actually implicated and used is a whole different discussion. We will dive into some of these ideas.

First, I will address the importance of net neutrality in order to keep free speech. As stated by Corynee Mcsherry in the article titled, An attack on Net Neutrality is an Attack on Free Speech she states, “Several US senators spoke out this week on the importance of net neutrality to innovation and free speech. They are right. The Internet has become our public square, our newspaper, our megaphone. The Federal Communications Commission is trying to turn it in something more akin to commercial cable TV, and we all have to work together to stop it” (1).  She later alludes on this point of net neutrality and free speech by saying “What makes the Internet revolutionary is the ability of every user to create news and culture and participate in conversations with people all across the globe. Mass consumption of entertainment products may be big business and may even help drive adoption, but it’s not new and empowering like the opportunity to participate in speech on an infinite variety of topics” (1). 

Privacy rights are related to Net neutrality because with the availability of such information there is tremendous privacy rights that arise. If people have access and knowledge to data from thousands of sources there is high chances of information leak not only from hackers but from local governments or independent companies. Not only does net neutrality bring up the chances of data being abuse fully stolen but also puts a high risk of personal information being stolen. In a BBC article titled, “Is privacy dead in an online world?” the author articulates the exposure of privacy rights within the internet. The article states, “Last month, 145 million Americans discovered they were victims of one of the biggest data breaches in history, after the credit rating agency Equifax was hacked. Social security numbers, birth dates, telephone numbers and, in some cases, driver’s license and credit card numbers were exposed, leaving people vulnerable to identity theft and fraud. Companies know more about individuals than they ever have. And almost every week there is news of a data hack. So does this mean that the age of personal privacy is over?” (2)

An interesting consequence that people don’t often think of with net neutrality is the incurred cost that can occur from net neutrality. By allowing everyone access data and information there is a lot of money that consumers are actually wasting. For example, an article titled “This net neutrality has real consequences for cellular data bills” they delve into this issue. It states. “Zero-rating programs (like AT&T not counting DirecTV toward a customer’s data usage) can allow people to use specific apps and services without the data used going toward their monthly data caps. At face, it looks like a pretty solid deal for consumers, but in the long run, critics of the programs have suggested that they could end up having anti-competitive effects. This multi-year study by Epicenter works found that countries that allow these programs end up seeing higher costs for wireless data down the road” (3). So, while the availability of information while seem like a positive in the eyes of the consumer it actually has negative effects like these costs that don’t seem so evident. On the flip, if you didn’t have net neutrality you would not have this data/resources readily available but wouldn’t get hit with sporadic costs.

I believe the web we want program is a great idea. The internet needs to be conserved for so many reasons. It needs to have the ability of people to connect, socialize, and be used as a tool to globalize the world. Although there are more and more threats of privacy invasion, hackers, and data being released at free will it is extremely necessary that we keep the future of the internet. Without the internet we would be nothing. The internet and the web are a keystone to mankind and our generation and we must continue to conserve and enhance it. The internet over time will only grow and grow and it is our responsibility to prevent it from tumbling to the ground. I truly think that the web we want is the best way to have a better internet. It incentivizes people to keep the foundation of the web alive while also looking to enhance and conserve. I believe the most important part of this idea is conserving. We must conserve everything we have achieved thus far and only look to expand on these ideas, not decrease our information.

Citations:

Kelly, Makena. “This Net Neutrality Rule Has Real Consequences for Cellular Data Bills.” The Verge. The Verge, February 11, 2019. https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/11/18220889/zero-rating-programs-wireless-date-net-neutrality.

“Massive Equifax Data Breach Hits 143 Million.” BBC News. BBC, September 8, 2017. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-41192163.

McSherry, Corynne. “An Attack on Net Neutrality Is an Attack on Free Speech.” Electronic Frontier Foundation, July 5, 2017. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/06/attack-net-neutrality-attack-free-speech.

This is an example post, originally published as part of Blogging University. Enroll in one of our ten programs, and start your blog right.

You’re going to publish a post today. Don’t worry about how your blog looks. Don’t worry if you haven’t given it a name yet, or you’re feeling overwhelmed. Just click the “New Post” button, and tell us why you’re here.

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