Unless you have been living under a rock or under your exam study guides, for the past few weeks, you have probably been introduced to the topic of Net Neutrality. The Trump Administration has, once again, made the decision to try to rid the country of regulations that were created during the Obama-era. While Canada will not be directly affected if these changes were to take effect, it is still imperative that Canadians remain educated on the risk associated with the removal of Net Neutrality.
What is Net Neutrality?
In simplest terms, Net Neutrality refers to a consumer’s ability to access anything on the internet with no restrictions from Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Customers currently cannot be penalized or charged monetary fees for accessing certain websites under Net Neutrality regulations – illegal activities being the obvious exception.
Canadian vs. American Stance
During the time the Obama administration was in office, Net Neutrality regulations were introduced, which stated that ISPs could not choose what their customers could or could not access as well as prohibiting them from having the ability to increase or decrease the speed in which their favourable sites operated.
Last month, the Trump administration announced plans to revert these rules by a vote on December 14th. This could lead to “packages” being introduced to consumers by ISPs in order to gain access to certain sites and applications. This can be compared to that of cable packages, where consumers are given the choice to pay for certain packages that include access to premium channels. (HBO? Yes, please!) This ultimately takes away the internet user’s ability to search and gain access to any information they may desire, while giving the upper hand to ISPs who will be raking in an abundance of cash from these regulations.
Fortunately, Canada has taken a completely opposite stance to that of our neighbours to the south. Canada has been noted to be a world leader in supporting Net Neutrality, and has no current plans to change this in the near future. In an article written by the Globe and Mail, the federal Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Navdeep Bains, can be quoted confirming that “Canada will continue to stand for diversity and freedom of expression. Our government remains committed to the principles of net neutrality.”
However, the effects of ridding Net Neutrality in the United States could still be felt. Canadian sites could face demands for payments in their attempts to attract American users. So, regardless of the Canadian stance taken on the subject, it is important for both Canadian users and businesses that Net Neutrality regulations stay in effect for the benefit of both countries.
What You SHOULD Do
While you may not be able to participate in the upcoming vote on December 14th, there is still an abundance of steps you can take to join the fight in favour of Net Neutrality. Share your knowledge on the issue with others! Have an American friend who is unsure of what all the fuss is about? Inform them! The best way for these regulations to stay in place is to make sure everyone is educated on the issue and understand the repercussions of getting rid of certain regulations.
Most importantly, STOP taking your internet privileges for granted. Instead of using all your time surfing the web to scroll through your Twitter feed to watch old Vines or mindlessly playing games, use your time to make a difference. Speak up about issues you or a friend are facing, whether at school, work or home, take the time to teach your grandmother how to properly use Facebook to connect with her long-lost cousins in Europe, and read news articles to better understand what is going on in the world around you. Net Neutrality is a privilege that we should be taking advantage of to learn new things and continue to evolve our society for the better.