Net Neutrality

According to the definition taken from Wikipedia, Network or Net

Neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers (ISPs)
must treat all Internet communications equally, and not
discriminate or charge differently based on user, content, website,
platform, application, type of equipment, or method of
communication. There is a common misconception that all the
information in the world wide web or internet is equally
accessible. This forms the base of the concept of net neutrality.
Internet Service provider is an organization that provides services
for using and accessing the Internet. In other words, it equips us
with the tool to explore the contents in Internet. They have power
to monitor and influence what we see and how quickly, it is
accessible to us. Net Neutrality demands that the ISPs should
treat all the web traffic the same. This can be understood better
with the analogy of how a real traffic operates. ISP provides the
road or the medium between the tech companies like Google and
Amazon and the consumers. With net neutrality, all the
information from Big and small companies will travel along the
same road with the same speed. But without net neutrality, ISPs
create another faster lane for companies like Netflix, YouTube etc.
thereby increasing their speed of services and charge exorbitant
amount of money from them. Some small companies might even
be denied access to the road. This concept had its origins in
Unites States of America but affects the people worldwide. The
Internet has reduced distances and this idea spread like a wildfire
all over the World prompting awareness and compelling people to
take actions. I’m going to express my opinions on net neutrality
and discuss how we are being influenced by web.
We are often wrong when we say that web is at our disposal and a
tool for us. On the contrary, our opinions and our perceptions are
shaped by the contents on the net which is in turn controlled by
the ISP. In young age, minds are malleable and are primarily
shaped by observing surroundings. In today’s World, Internet
dominates and the surrounding primarily consists of the contents
in the Web. Let’s take an example. ISPs have their own privacy
policies and they store sensitive data. A particular company
approaches, say Facebook and ask them to market their products
towards a certain demographic. After striking a deal, Facebook will
use the sensitive data of the users that they obtained to send
personalized adverts. These adverts when seen by the users will
prompt them to take certain actions. Now, they might have a
good or a bad consequence. The point that is being made is this
power resides only with big companies. Some small companies
having amazing ideas will not have resources to circulate it and
make changes.
Web was initially made to provide us knowledge and interlink the
whole World. Knowledge has an extremely broad definition and no
one should have the power to control the flow of knowledge. ISPs
presently have the power to block the contents that they don’t
like. It is analogous to denying freedom of speech. The concept of
net neutrality is not just putting a ban on blocks and paid
prioritization. It seeks for a ban on blocking content or prioritizing
for the sole purpose of making money. Blocking content for public
safety or for any other specialized service was never demanded
by the concept of net neutrality. For example, the decision of
blocking obscene and derogatory contents by ISP was never
opposed by the net neutrality act.
Net neutrality reduces the effect of persuasive technology to a
great extent. For example, there are hundreds of streaming
services. Netflix has surpassed all of them. They boast of HD and
UltraHD quality videos with lower bandwidth. ISPs provide Netflix
with higher speed transfer of packets compared to other
streaming services. This not only persuades millions of people
worldwide to avail this service but also the content distributor
who wants to broadcast their content on their platform. With Net
neutrality, other small streaming services will have fair chance of
competing and even toppling giants like Netflix.
This essay talks only about the positive consequences of Net
Neutrality. It is mostly about tipping the balance, allowing transfer
of ideas without any barrier and enhancing technological change
by providing everyone with equal opportunities. There are certain
cons also, but according to my opinions, pros far outweighs the
cons of Net Neutrality.

References
(n.d.). Retrieved from Net Neutrality:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
Curtis, J. (2018, July 31). Retrieved from The pros and cons of net
neutrality: https://www.itpro.co.uk/strategy/28115/the-pros-
and-cons-of-net-neutrality
Investopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from Net Neutrality Issue:
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/markets/062014/what-
you-need-know-about-net-neutrality.asp
Net Neutrality. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_neutrality
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdANAZ-bk44&t=391s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zq-2Yk5OgKc&t=108s
Mandate -1: Models of Web Slides ( Prof. Srinath Srinivasa )