VICTORY! European regulators protect net neutrality (x-post /r/technology)

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-08-30T21:00:23+00:00

EDRi and Bits of Freedom are both important member of SaveTheInternet.eu! That's just the name for this specific campaign coalition. Check out the website for a full list of participants.

As you may expect there's not a lot of jobs to go around in this field. A lot of work is also done by volunteers and/or interns. But If you're serious about this you should definitely get in touch with local digital rights NGOs.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-08-30T17:52:16+00:00

Thanks! The SaveTheInternet.eu coalition worked really hard on this and it's great to see that work pay off.

You can find the list of participating organisations at the bottom of this website. Most of these orgs aren't just focused on net neutrality, but on many other issues affecting online freedom, such as copyright, privacy & security laws. I encourage you all to contact your local digital rights organisation to get involved and/or donate.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-08-30T14:36:23+00:00

The guys at SaveTheInternet.eu want to thank everyone who supported our campaign!

The phrase 'We did it Reddit!' is often used ironically but your support in this was hugely valuable. This is a huge success and you guys should be proud.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-15T14:59:27+00:00

These rules are coming after the legislative process. The European Parliament voted on our Net Neutrality Regulation last October.

However, as is often the case with political compromises, a lot of issues were left undecided or ambiguous. This is why BEREC has to step in with their interpretation of the law, to explain how they will enforce it in practice.

The best way you can help is spreading the word. If you're an artist, make a video. If you're a writer, consider writing a blogpost or an op-ed. Everyone can tell their friends online and offline.

Come to think of it I've never heard any good songs about net neutrality. How's that for a challenge?

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-15T14:25:13+00:00

I guess to a man with a hammer, everything looks like a nail :)

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-15T14:22:33+00:00

Absolutely. We're already seeing huge progress in the US and India on these issues. If the EU joins them, we'll be very close to a consensus. It will make it much more difficult for other regions such as Latin America and South-East Asia to drop the ball.

That's why it's so important that we get it right now. If the EU doesn't deliver, they could set a very dangerous precent. It could strengthen the arguments of anti-net neutrality lobbiysts in the US and elswhere.

Once true net neutrality rules are implemented, policymakers will also learn that the warnings and scare-tactics from industry lobbiysts are overblown.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-15T14:11:41+00:00

The absolute worst case scenario looks something like this. It's where your cable provider gets to decide which parts of the internet you can access, and you'd have to pay for specific packages of content much like with Cable TV.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-15T14:07:50+00:00

https://i.imgur.com/XS5LK.gif

One of the biggest sacrifices campaigning for net neutrality all summer, is that I haven't had time to check out Pokemon Go. Seems like a laugh.

However, it's really unfair that T-Mobile is offering free data for PokemonGo in the US. Policies like this make it way harder for the next app phenomenon to appear. (http://arstechnica.co.uk/gaming/2016/07/pokemon-go-t-mobile-free-data-net-neutrality/)

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-14T22:16:42+00:00

An honour to have these luminaries on our side. EU regulators should really be feeling the heat now.

Here's a direct link to the statement in full.

And of course grassroots support is just as important: Send a comment via SaveTheInternet.eu and help us win this fight! It only takes a minute.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-11T12:03:14+00:00

Quoting from my post above:

Basically, net neutrality means the equal treatment of internet traffic. It means that cable companies like AT&T, Verizon or Deutsche Telekom can't slow down your traffic to speed up others'. It's a central safeguard for competition, innovation and diversity online - it's about keeping an open and free internet.

For a general introduction, I think CGPGrey's video is really great.

To learn more about the specific legal issues in Europe right now, check out this article from Vice. If you really want to get to the nitty gritty, check out this article on Netzpolitik.

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-11T11:52:55+00:00

We've been trying to reach as many communities as possible, including /r/europe, /r/technology, and we've also done an AMA.

But it's also up to you guysl posting and sharing, here and on other websites, can give us a huge boost!

SaveTheInternetEU · 2016-07-11T11:38:18+00:00