What Is Net Neutrality?

Date First Published: 28th November 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Ethics & Sustainability

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 6/10

CONTENTS

How Are Websites On The Dark Web Accessed?
Risks Of The Dark Web
Difference Between The Deep Web and Dark Web

Learn about what net neutrality is in this article.

Net neutrality is the principle that ISPs should treat all internet traffic equally. Regardless of the device, application, platform, or protocol, net neutrality states that ISPs should not restrict access, throttle traffic, or prioritise traffic from specific websites or services to serve their own interests.

The concept of net neutrality is about people being free to access content equally without ISPs interfering. For example, ISPs should not throttle traffic just because they don't like it (e.g. the traffic includes websites for competitor ISPs). However, ISPs can take reasonable measures to manage their internet traffic so that their networks runs smoothly, as long as they are not excessive.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of Net Neutrality

The advantages of net neutrality are:

It provides equality. Net neutrality means that no one who visits specific websites or uses specific services gets unfairly disadvantaged. Without net neutrality, ISPs can slow down traffic when it comes from certain protocols or prioritise traffic from websites or services to their own interests. This helps create a fairer and more open internet.
It promotes information freedom and free speech. With net neutrality, ISPs will not block content or slow down webpages just because they don't like them.
It promotes greater innovation. Net neutrality can help new companies and technologies to grow as ISPs do not choose their favourites.

The disadvantages of net neutrality are:

Users only pay for the service rather than the data they consume. This can lead to customers paying for more than they need.
It can increase the accessibility of offensive and harmful content. Net neutrality makes it harder for ISPs to filter offensive and harmful content.

History

The term "net neutrality" was invented by a Columbia Law School professor, Tim Wuin in his June 2002 paper, "A Proposal for Network Neutrality.". He said that cable and DSL operators had a right to manage their networks for maximum efficiency. But, they should not be allowed to favour certain internet applications and users to solely advance their own interests or profits. That would result in "market distortion" detrimental to public interests, hinder innovation and hurt companies locked out of participation.

His proposal for net neutrality tried to balance the competing interests by "forbidding broadband operators, absent a showing of harm, from restricting what users do with their internet connection, while giving the operator freedom to manage bandwidth consumption and other matters of local concern."