The debate over net neutrality has taken on a new
significance with the rise of Web 2.0 and its corresponding new media
texts. Pro-net neutralists argue that a
net neutrality law is needed to foster future innovation, protect Internet
users’ freedom of speech and avoid Internet use discrimination that is based
solely on income. Anti-net neutralists assert that free market capitalism and
the fact that we are currently operating on a limited amount of available
bandwidth are strong reasons for opposing net neutrality policies. Both sides offer solid evidence for their
stances, and thus, the debate carries on.
Below is a podcast I created on this topic. You may access the full transcript + reference list here.
It seems to me this is a problem of digital divide, where those who are more privileged in the receiving of information through the internet, have their place to voice out their opinion on the net (which is what you called freedom of speech) and thus creating an invisible discrimination for those who either have not gain the knowledge of using the internet or have no money to get access to the internet.
ReplyDeleteLet alone to all those restriction given by government (such as the banning of searching "inappropriate " wordings in Chinese Google), I believed that there such not be any constraint for people to browse around the virtual world, even what I gave as an example, the banning from government.
As the world is overflowing with information now, it is better for all the mankind to gain access to it and to make a better life through that, I hope that the authorities would realize the importance of growing up with their citizen in the new media world, granting them at least a chance to grasp hold of the information around, but not to restrict them from getting them.
I tend to agree, although I didn't state an opinion in my podcast. I feel that there should be some form of legislation that bans the control of the Internet by capitalistic enterprises.
ReplyDeleteAnother current debate related to net neutrality is in regard to the control of networks by cell phone companies. For example, some service providers provide their subscribers with speedy internet connections at first, but after they have accessed a certain amount of data, they begin slowing down their connections. I don't have a smart phone, so I don't know if this is happening. Has anyone with an iPhone, etc. experienced this? I have also heard that, for example, if you are a Sprint subscriber, you are unable to access the AT&T webpage on your smartphone. Anyone experienced this?