We are in a war, Neo. (Net Neutrality)

“…they are the gatekeepers. They are guarding all the doors, they are holding all the keys, which means that sooner or later, someone is going to have to fight them.” - Morpheus, The Matrix

On the topic of net neutrality, I found it appropriate to post this quote from the Matrix. Perhaps there is no “matrix” per se that we live in, but the analogy to ISPs such as Rogers and Bell is applicable. What if these large internet service providers actually became the gatekeepers to all information on the internet? Well, there’s a bit more to it than that.

Essentially, major internet companies such as Rogers and Bell want bigger profits from this new technology called the internet. But wait – I know what you’re thinking, don’t these companies make enough money as it is? Well, that is up for debate (no it’s not) but is beside the point. The negative implications of these companies trying to gain access to our internet are far too important to ignore.
To put the dilemma into perspective, think about this. Imagine a world in which the wealthy gain a bigger connection to information stored on the internet. Companies will tell you what you can access and at what price. Sound fair? Maybe if you’re a big corporation trying to monopolize on the genius of the internet, but for the rest of us…this isn’t a good thing.

The problem of net neutrality flows deeper than losing content and being restricted, though. If major corporations have a grip on the content flow of the internet, they essentially have a way of controlling people. Now am I saying that there is a giant conspiracy to slowly brainwash the human race? Maybe, but for those of you who aren’t as extremist, I’d like you to think about what television has been able to accomplish over the past few decades. These corporations have gotten good at showing whatever makes them the most money on television; keeping in mind putting an idea on the television is much more expensive than the internet. What will they do to the internet then? We can see already what they are trying to do, and it’s not fair, to say the least.

Someone is going to have to fight them, so why shouldn’t it be us? After all, we are the biggest part of the internet, around 60% of it at least – in user-generated content. Why should companies who have nothing to do with the creation or essence of the web have control over it?

They shouldn’t. Don’t let them, and speak up!

http://googlepublicpolicy.blogspot.com/search/label/Net%20Neutrality