Ending Net Neutrality could fundamentally change the way the internet works. Below are examples of how dangerous the internet would be without it.
Comcast vs. Netflix
In 2013 Netflix’s download speeds decreased by almost 30% over Comcast’s network (Bowman 1). This manipulation of how data is treated goes against all that Net Neutrality stands for and shows just how important the concept is. It wasn’t until Netflix paid a premium that their speeds were increased. This shows how ISPs can prioritize data and charge companies money to keep their websites relevant. While this wasn’t a major problem for Netflix, this could mean the end of the internet we know today. When users search the web, they are exposed to millions of sites and new web start ups are popping up everyday. If companies had to pay a premium for higher speeds, the startups would be at a distinct disadvantage and innovation would be stifled. For instance, in the past MySpace could have paid Comcast to promote their site while Facebook remained a small site because of its startup status and budget. These concepts are dangerous to users and small businesses everywhere. Additionally, Comcast may have had ulterior motives for their manipulation of Netflix in particular. Comcast’s cable ratings directly compete with Netflix and they rigged the system to find profit in anyway possible. Comcast and other ISPs are the gate keepers of the internet and allowing them to force their content before others could result in monopolies and extreme abuse of power.
(Visualization of Netflix connection speeds on Comcast’s network in 2014)
“Netflix vs. Comcast” Copyright: Fair use. http://beforeitsnews.com/financial-markets/2014/09/net-neutrality-the-story-youre-not-being-told-2767294.html
SOPA
The Stop Online Piracy Act, also known as SOPA, was intended to shutdown online sites that promoted piracy such as BITtorrent and The Pirate Bay. Unfortunately, the law’s goals didn’t stop there. The bill proposed jail time for posting copyrighted content, including music covers and video game streams, on the internet and effectively planned to stifle free speech (Blevins 723-725). Copyright holders pressured members of congress to pass the idea into law. Stealing content is morally and legally wrong; however, the law took punishments too far and casted a wide net over a multitude of small copyright infringements. Additionally, passing this law could set the precedent that allows companies and the government to discriminate data online. They can essentially control what can and cannot be seen on the internet. Without net neutrality, the days of free speech on the internet could be over.
Citations
Bowman, Jeremy. “Comcast Is Going to War With Netflix Inc.” The Motley Fool. The Motley Fool, 1 Feb. 2016. Web. 25 Mar. 2016. <http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/01/comcast-is-going-to-war-with-netflix-inc.aspx>.
Blevins, John. “THE RISKS AND REWARDS OF NETWORK NEUTRALITY UNDER § 706.” 2015 Mich. St. Rev 723 (2015): 723-37. Academic Search Complete [EBSCO]. Web. 15 Mar. 2016. <http://digitalcommons.law.msu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1122&context=lr>.