Summary: Censorship and discrimination in access/speech increase on the Internet after a US court rules against net neutrality

WITH Western censorship, DRM in standards, and surveillance by design, the Web is already a dying medium as an independent, neutral ground for communication. Now comes another blow to net neutrality, basically jeopardising non-discrimination and introducing a form of 'soft' censorship. We have already written a great deal about net neutrality, including for example the following articles:

• Microsoft is a Threat to Privacy and Net Neutrality But Accuses Google of Those Same Threats
• New Threats of 'Gentle' Internet Censorship as Even Regulators Speak for Corporations
• Net Neutrality Mischiefs?
• Links: Net Neutrality and Digital Economy Act Under Fire
• Microsoft is Against Net Neutrality
• Politicians in Europe and the United States Are Giving up on Net Neutrality
• One Urgent Link - Net Neutrality Attack in US
• Net Neutrality is Under Attack in the US (Verizon Strikes Again), Neelie Kroes Helps Abolish Net Neutrality in Europe

Here in Europe net neutrality is dying [1], but in the US it is already dead, officially so after this new court decision [2,3]. It might be possible to get net neutrality back [4], but it's going to be extremely hard and the future looks grim [5] (the press of Rupert Murdoch, who is an opponent of the Internet and net neutrality, pretends nothing has changed [6]). This latest travesty [7] is following outrageous moves by AT&T just a week earlier [8-11], turning data caps into profits although there is no real capacity issue, just an imaginary issue, an excuse. The saddest thing is that not only the Web is affected; if an alternative to the Web was made and was designed to sit on top of the Internet, then too discrimination per protocol or content would be permitted. ⬆

Related/contextual items from the news:

1. SaveTheInternet.eu: Act Now For Net Neutrality!

   
   
   A broad coalition of civil Liberties NGOs launched SaveTheInternet.eu, a campaign to protect Net neutrality in upcoming EU legislation. A recent proposal from the European Commission will restrict freedom of speech on the Internet, increase prices and stifle online innovation unless urgent action is taken. Citizens should contact parliamentarians in the European Parliament's Industry Committee and urge them to defend the open Internet.





2. U.S. appeals court kills net neutrality





3. Key provision of net-neutrality law struck down by court





4. Net Neutrality Is Dead -- Here's How to Get It Back

   Three judges in D.C. just killed Net Neutrality.
   
   This could be the end of the Internet as we know it. But it doesn't have to be.
   
   The big news: A federal appeals court on Tuesday struck down the Federal Communications Commission's Open Internet Order. This decision means that companies like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon -- which brought the lawsuit -- are now free to block or slow down any website, application or service they like.
   
   These companies will rush to change the Web and line their own pockets at our expense -- creating new tolls for app makers, expensive price tiers for popular sites, and fast lanes open only to the few content providers that can afford them.





5. Net neutrality gets a kick in the teeth

   A US court has ruled against the FCC's Open Internet regulations, putting the future of net neutrality completely up in the air.





6. Open Internet Ruling: No Change for Consumers' Ability to Access and Use the Internet





7. Federal Court Strikes Down Net Neutrality Rules, Sides with Big Telecom

   A U.S. Appeals Court just invalidated the FCC's net neutrality rules that would've made it illegal for telecom companies to favor certain types of traffic over others. The court ruled that the commission lacked the authority to implement and enforce such rules which were embedded in a complicated legal framework.





8. AT&T Says Sponsored Data Doesn't Violate Net Neutrality: Internet Advocates Argue Mobile Practices Are Unfair

   AT&T’s (NYSE:T) Sponsored Data announcement at 2014 International CES instantly drew concerns from Internet advocates and even the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC. However, the wireless communications giant is unfazed by public response, maintaining that Sponsored Data complies with FCC Net neutrality rules.





9. AT&T Thumbs Nose at Net Neutrality With ‘Sponsored’ Bandwidth Scheme





10. AT&T's 'Sponsored Data' Program An Admission That Data Caps Have Nothing To Do With Congestion





11. AT&T turns data caps into profits with new fees for content providers