So far, the EU’s digital single market commissioner Andrus Ansip has remained resolute. At a recent European Voice event, Creating Europe’s digital highways, Ansip reiterated the importance of net neutrality:
We need strong net neutrality rules and more coordination on spectrum.
On net neutrality, there are three elements we should address:
Firstly, we need to make sure that the internet is not splintered apart by different rules. This is why we need common rules for net neutrality.
Then, we need an open internet for consumers. No blocking or throttling.
And we want an internet that allows European industry to innovate and provide better services for consumers.
It remains to be seen to what extent there will be “strong net neutrality rules” across the EU. Certainly the voices opposed to it are powerful and, as we have seen in the United States, even the supposed victory of the FCC has resulted in legal challenges being launched to prevent new regulations.
The internet is awash with talk of great threats that could destroy the internet and do irreparable damage to this vital resource. However, the threats posed by a retreat from the principles of net neutrality are stark. The consequences will be a narrowing down of information sources, a move away from an internet where all data is treated equally towards one where priority is given to those with the deepest pockets. This presents serious dangers and will hammer in nail in the coffin of the internet as a resource for the many, and instead create an internet that serves the interests of the few.
This is an edited version of an article that first appeared on Ian's blog Infoism.
Ian Clark is Librarian and co-founder of a leading national library advocacy campaign. He has written articles on a range of professional issues for a number of publications including The Guardian, Library Journal and the Open Rights Group – and of course Information Today Europe.