Net Neutrality

[emeraldslay]

Have any of you heard of this Net Neutrality issue?

For those of you that haven't, heres the controversy in a nutshell: Apparently, all of the major Internet Service Providers are getting together and signing a contract to begin censoring the internet. Instead of "Net Neutrality" - a network free of censorship, that doesn't restrict access to different websites, instead we could have the major companies deciding which websites go fast, which go slow, and even providing "packages" that limit internet access to 3-4 websites, thus the major corporations take over the internet.

I, for one, would hate for major service providers to go ahead and start censoring the internet. And it's already started! There have already been documented cases of ISP blocking access to certain websites!

For more information go to www.savetheinternet.com

 

[Legobricks]

Then, soon as they do it they all lose millions of customers. *eyeroll*
It's like nuclear war — nobody's quite that stupid.

If they eventually do do it though, since I think it's probably inevitable they'll censor a few sites, I'll become my own ISP if possible. :0

 

[Kura]

I already heard that the Chinese communist government has blocked a bunch of stuff from internet providers for people in the country.
:/ So.. it's kinda freaky that they cant access the news like we can.

 

[Hiidoran]

When I first read this topic, all I could think about were Cable and Satellite Companies with all their packages!

"For only $49.99 a month, you can view websites that have 1,000,000+ views!"
*shudders*

I can see why the Chinese government did this, it's all part of being communist. However, countries with Democratic governments should keep the internet how it is. I mean, come on... wouldn't censoring the internet be infringing on our freedom of speech rights?

Also, the only site's that I've heard the ISP's were blocking were one's that offered illegal content. These were pretty large sites from the look of it too. So, to me it's like they were just blocking it until the government shut them down. :\

 

[doesn't matter]

It's not about just blocking them, but it's giving other sites an advantage. Those who pay up to the ISPs will have their sites loaded faster than those who don't, thus drawing people towards them.

 

[Red1530]

I think there should be net neutrality because the Internet transmission system is similar to the of a telephone network where there is already similar provisions, I think.

 

[Mr. Curling Iron]

Net Neutrality - Has actually been an issue for years now. sooner or later, ISPs will lose their customers, and they will have to decrease the restrictions. Although I'm against Net Neutrality as a whole, it can help decrease the amount of porn in a country... In most families, the son is usually the one who looks at porn, along with the random neighbours that come over and use the computer, and some babysitters. With this Neutrality, it can be stopped although it would be sacraficing education for "safety".. D:

 

[j_]

Err, what?

Net Neutrality - Has actually been an issue for years now. sooner or later, ISPs will lose their customers, and they will have to decrease the restrictions. Although I'm against Net Neutrality as a whole, it can help decrease the amount of porn in a country... In most families, the son is usually the one who looks at porn, along with the random neighbours that come over and use the computer, and some babysitters. With this Neutrality, it can be stopped although it would be sacraficing education for "safety".. D:

Net Neutrality decreases porn viewing? Please share what you're smoking with the rest of us! :)

 

[Mr. Curling Iron]

If, you saw that theoretical banner that showed the "rates" of the Internet after neutrality had been taken out (if you havent realised yet, net neutrality is what we have now, this is what isps are trying to get rid of), you would have realised that, for "$99 (or something similar to that) you get full access of the internet." but in small text next to it, it says "excludes adult content"

 

[j_]

If, you saw that theoretical banner that showed the "rates" of the Internet after neutrality had been taken out (if you havent realised yet, net neutrality is what we have now, this is what isps are trying to get rid of), you would have realised that, for "$99 (or something similar to that) you get full access of the internet." but in small text next to it, it says "excludes adult content"

I still don't see your point. You don't want net neutrality, simply because you don't like porn?

Interesting viewpoint.. How about, err, the problems that a tiered internet would cause, among many of smaller things? "Sorry, I can't visit your site. I don't pay enough to access it!"

 

[Mr. Curling Iron]

Ofcourse, I have looked at that, as i have said, "sacraficing education over 'safety' "
which also inclused other stuff. I hope you know that if isps actually do stop net neutrality, then it means that large businesses also profit as many employees will be stripped of their MSN/AIM/IRC/Forums/ other life at work, so it does have advantages, but im not seeing much advantages for Generation X and Y, since we're living in an age where everything is so readily avilable (spelling xD).

 

[SIN1488]

I heard this Neutrality thing started to block out Child Porn sites, however if you let them have control of viewing one thing, soon they will want to control filtering of more, until only sponsored sites are allowed.


My whole opinion on this thing: F$%& teh govmnts!! >:O

 

[Aisu K.]

Well, needless to say, I'm totally against this. Due to the actions of Bush, the internet is really the only place we can have free speech, and even here, it could still get limited. The last thing we need is to have those elitist big-business ISP to come in and take over and censor everything and all of that. Its just wrong :P

 

[Neko]

Wait, if they block certain websites, would proxies still work on them? Or how about different browsers? (Like firefox, opera, etc.) People would find a way around eventually. It's the internet we're talking about here peeps! ;3


-Neko

 

[emeraldslay]

Wait, if they block certain websites, would proxies still work on them? Or how about different browsers? (Like firefox, opera, etc.) People would find a way around eventually. It's the internet we're talking about here peeps! ;3


-Neko

Unfortunately, the problem is that *all* major ISPs would get together. They aren't stupid, every internet service provider knows that if they're the only ones who do this then they're going to lose millions of customers practically overnight. This is bigger than proxies - if every single ISP goes with this, then proxies would be useless.

Also, iMiraj, i think you are really looking at the smaller picture here. Porn and employees looking at MSN is not the basis for debate with the net neutrality issue. It's the fact that in the long term, smaller websites (such as this one) will be shut down, and only major websites will be allowed to stay.

 

[Yamikarasu]

IMO, the internet should have no restrictions, and it should be free to access anywhere.

If corporations control the entire internet, we're screwed.

 

[Nishrocks]

I think it's terrible.
Net Neutrality is absolutely one of our human rights.
It's free speech. I for one would simply DIE if corporations took over, especially in an age where the internet is a necessity

 

[Aisu K.]

Those hotshot elites are the root of all evil in America. I simply couldn't imagine them ruling the web with an iron fist. Sadly, those republicans would give them the world if they could...

 

[Nishrocks]

:( Save the internet, hotshot elites, if you're reading this. Don't put a price on freedom.

 

[Neko]

Unfortunately, the problem is that *all* major ISPs would get together. They aren't stupid, every internet service provider knows that if they're the only ones who do this then they're going to lose millions of customers practically overnight. This is bigger than proxies - if every single ISP goes with this, then proxies would be useless.

So wait, you're saying that ALL websites except big ones like youtube, myspace, yahoo, etc. will be shut down? I don't understand why they would do that though, it's pointless really. I mean, they'd have to censor stuff from youtube and yahoo and stuff anyways too...I guess that would make proxies useless though..since they could just block all those too, right? I'm not sure though I mean..I get emailed a new proxy almost everyday..though I guess it would make sense since it's the isp blocking the sites and not something like websense..right? *confuzzled* Gah, I hate being confuzzled..*death*


-Neko