Net Neutrality

What is Net Neutrality?

Net neutrality is the idea that internet service providers should treat the data that comes through their cables and cell towers equally. They should not be able to slow down or restrict some of the data that goes through them. Such has been a problem regulating since the 2000s. Internet service providers were heavily restricting video streaming content. Aside from a lack of entertainment, this is a problem due to it restricting free speech and expression. Not only are big streaming services affected by this, but content from small creators and websites can be restricted, thus not letting the populous speak.

Attempts at Enforce Net Neutrality

The first attempt to enforce net neutrality was in 2005. The Bush-era Federal CommunicationsCommision (FCC) took its first pass at anti-discrimination laws on the internet. This prohibited internet service providers from blocking legal content or preventing their customers from connecting their own chosen devices to the internet. The Obama-era FCC issued another, more detailed, net neutrality statement, but were sued by Verizon. Later, in 2014, the same court sued the FCC saying that they weren't allowed to impose net neutrality regulations on services that weren't considered common carriers. Later that the FCC passed regulations which might have encouraged "fast lanes" for data on the internet. After John Oliver discussed the new regulations on his show, the FCC's website was flooded with comments. In 2015 the FCC pased a sweeping net neutrality order, but were sued by telecommunications firms. However, this time, the court sided with them and ruled that 2015 rules were legal. However, after the 2016 election, the new Republican FCC had different ideas for net neutrality. Ajit Pai was appointed by President Donald Trump, and in April of 2017, he announced that they were to reverse the 2015 net neutrality orders. In December 2017, the FCC effectively threw out the 2015 net neutrality rules entirely. It dropped restrictions for blocking or throttling content, it instead requires that interet service providers explain the information of their network-management practices. The Federal Trade is now the only one to allegedly prevent net neutrality violations. However, although they can prevent websites from blocking their competitors, this does not mean that creating fast lanes for data from companies that pay more can be stopped.

What does this mean?

Although many have protested these new regulations and do not support them, there has been little success. In January 2018, 21 states sued the FCC ordering to restore the previous net neutrality regulations. In 2019 the federal court decided mostly in favor of the FCC, but they stated that they could not override state-regulated net neutrality laws. After this, Washington became the first to pass their own net neutrality laws in March 2018 and California passed one of the most comprehensive net neutrality regulations of all. However, one may expect broadband providers to slowly take control. Although some services allow their own streaming sites to pass through with out any extra charge, streaming services like Hulu and Netflix would still be charge for going over the provider's data limits.

The Federal Communications Commision's logo

Internet Censorship

Internet Censorship is most prominent and most notable in China. They have the Great Firewall which prohibits Chinese citizens from accessing Western media like Facebook, Whatsapp, Youtube. Instead of those sites, they use Chinese alternatives, such as Bilibili, WeChat, and Weibo, for their social media. This is due to the Chinese Communist Party fearing that they will lose their power if they let Western media "corrupt" the minds of their citizens, who then might start to question the party's ideology. Such restrictions most noticably started to cracked down when Xi-Jinping took power in 2012.

In November 2013, the Communist Party issued and internal communique warning its members of seven perils that could undermine it's rule. What followed was a complete offensive on the internet's media, civil society, and education in order to filter the political ideas going through the Chinese young people. The list of banned words and images grew and articles or posts that managed to be published were removed with speed. Foreign websites were blocked by the Firewall and some include Twitter, the Times, and the Journal. Although one could use a VPN to bypass the firewall, it is increasingly dangerous to do so. Some have been sent to jail for selling them, and some fined for using them.

With all of this considered, China has an Internet Freedom Score of 10/100, and a Global Freedom Score of 9/100. Out of the categories of networks, social media, and websites, there are some that are restricted. Pro-government commentators are allowed, and users have been arrested for various internet-related actions. Users have faced serious legal repercussions for sharing news stories, talking about their religious beliefs, or communicating with family members overseas. Such restriction, although in the eyes of the government seems to encourage prosperity, those that live in the freedomless People's Republic of China see it as a dogmatic excuse to ensure the success of a one-party system. Although they may not be able to speak their own opinions out loud without serious repercussions, hopefully there may be a day where the flaws in China's government are seen, and a push for reform ensues.

Digital Divide

What is Digital Divide

Digital divide is the gap between demographics or regions that have access to the Internet and devices that connect to the internet, and with those that do not. Those living in urban areas have more access to the Internet than those who live in rural areas. There are three types of digital divide. The access divide refers to the socioeconomic differences between people and their ability to purchase devices that can connect to the Internet. The use divide refers to the difference in skills possessed by people that determine whether or not they are able to use Internet technology. It can be both a generational gap and an educational one, where those who are older may not have as many skills in handling computers, and those that received a lower quality education would follow suit. The quality-of-use gap refers to the different ways people use the Internet, considering the fact that some are far more capable of getting the information they need than others.

Across the Globe

Around the world, digital divide was seen as a consequence of economics. As economies and wages grew, the divide was expected to narrow. However, although with growing wages, digital services have still remained low in the majority of developing countries. Obviously, those in developed countries tend to have more access to the Internet than those in developing countries. For example, 94.65% of North Americans have Internet access, compared to the 39.3% of Africans having access. Oddly enough, some large countries have better Internet access on the coast than they have more inland. Relief efforts are being made to improve Internet conditions in landlocked countries and small island nations. Globally, 78% of people living in urban areas have Internet access, and 38% of those in rural areas have it. Analysts fear that the divide may be widening, and in addition to this, questionable business practices seem to aid in widening that divide, even in developed nations.

Attempts to Bridge the Divide

Attempts are being made to ensure that under-privileged individuals and under-developed areas get the internet access they need. The U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goal allows countries to coordinate their activities towards ending digital discrimination. The Alliance for Affordable Internet aspires to reduce the coast of broadband internet in specific areas of the world. Starlink provides high-speed internet and global coverage at affordable prices via satellites it has launched into space. Digital literacy programs are also being run worldwide in order to teach children and adults the skills they need to succeed. With all of these attempts, a prosperous future is in mind. With digital divide present, individuals with no experience in contemporary and ever-increasingly necessary skills will not be able to meaningfully contribute to the world, and might not even survive in their own endeavors and wishes.