By: Hannah Fitzpatrick
The topic of Net Neutrality has been one of the most prevalent debates over the last decade, as powerful figures are threatening to take away our free access to the internet. For the audience reading this blog post, it is important that you have an understanding of what exactly Net Neutrality is. Net Neutrality is the concept that all people are able to acquire free access to the internet and all that it provides (3). Whether we believe it or not the internet is one of the most powerful weapons that humans have created to date. The internet has opened up a tunnel for people with no platforms to be able to speak their minds and express their opinions on what it taking place in the world. The strongest aspect of social media that has been integrated into all media platforms, is the ability to share what others have posted. This is so impactful on society because it allows someone to be able to have an even bigger voice as people are able to stand by and support what that individual is saying.
Ever since the 1700’s when the Declaration of Independence was made, it is expressed that Americans have the right to have freedom of speech. This law is so important as it allows people to be able to voice their options and stick up for what it right, without it the world we live in would be dominated by powerful political figures. Having freedom of speech is so important to have in order for humans to be able to effectively communicate with one another about each others needs. We need Net Neutrality in order to keep our freedom of speech. Net Neutrality allows people to connect with others and engage in our economy and democracy. It provides people with an infinite amount of information so that we are able to keep ourselves informed, and to be able to conduct research on the material we would like to be more informed on. Not being able to have Net Neutrality would prohibit that ability to be able to grow as a society.
In particular social media has allowed us to have huge amounts of freedom of speech as we can express our opinions for everyone to see and then others are able to like and repost that information.
Privacy rights certainly have to do with Net Neutrality as internet services as Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, etc. will be able to choose what internet media you will be exposed to. There will be no privacy as they are able to track your every move and be able to manipulate you to certain products and ads they can display. Without Net Neutrality we are almost treated as robots as these internet services can control and program us to think in certain ways. For example, when these internet services are able to access what information you are browsing on the internet they are then able to create ads that they think will suit your needs (2). Although this is a huge step for the economy as more people will be contributing to it through this tactic, is breaks from people being able to have any privacy from what they are doing on the internet. Each and every person has the right to be able to say what their personal limits are on their privacy needs, and no one should be able to break those boundaries. This is why it is so important to be able to step up and voice their opinion on having Net Neutrality.
There is hope for Net Neutrality to not be taken from us as change.org has allowed for millions of people to be able to express their feelings. Their mission to for as many people to sign a petition so that Ajit Pai’s plan to end Net Neutrality does not happen (1). Below is a tweet that I think encompasses the mission of what change.org is all about as they believe in empowering people to have a voice.
Without having Net Neutrality it would result in numerous amounts of consequences. As Net Neutrality provides everyone to be able to have a platform to speak their minds and acquire knowledge, this being taken away from us creates there to be a power struggle between those who have a platform and the everyday common person. Each and every person has a valuable thing to say about how we can further develop and innovate our world to become a better place, and without this all decisions will be up to those who have already have existing power. When someone is able to have such an infinite amount of power it creates an environment that is not good for society. The most powerful thing a leader can do is listen to the people around them and apply what they have said to make changes. Without Net Neutrality there would be the consequence of people in power not being able to listen to what people have to say. This also can effect the economy as business would be put in danger as ISP would slow down the rate of how fast the internet works for that businesses web page, it also would make the user pay to have internet access tho that specific page as well. Most importantly, the right to our own basic right have having privacy would be put in jeopardy. There are a multitude of consequences of not having Net Neutrality, which is why it is our responsibility to speak up upon this issue.
In fact a foundation that has been speaking upon this issue The Web We Want Project. I think that this foundation is fantastic as its mission to provide those with an open web is so important to me. In order for them to provide this to the public they seek to revise government policies. I think this is a smart tactic as the government has the most power and say, so they are the ones who will be able to have the final say in our access to Net Neutrality. I think those who want people to have a free web is the best way to have a better internet, because people are able to acquire knowledge and speech their opinions.
To conclude this blog post I will live it with a bit of inspiration that as a society we can come together and win this fight.
Sources
- Berghel, Hal. “Net Neutrality Reloaded.” Computer 50, no. 10 (2017): 68-72.
2. Cheng, Hsing Kenneth, Subhajyoti Bandyopadhyay, and Hong Guo. “The debate on net neutrality: A policy perspective.” Information systems research 22, no. 1 (2011): 60-82.
3. Krämer, Jan, Lukas Wiewiorra, and Christof Weinhardt. “Net neutrality: A progress report.” Telecommunications Policy 37, no. 9 (2013): 794-813.
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