Ethical Issues - Net Neutrality
Computer Science: OCR GCSE, topic 1.6.5
Net Neutrality
Net neutrality concerns how bandwidth is controlled on the Internet.
Net neutrality
- For a long time, a key principle of the Internet was that all packets are treated equally.
- That means that if two websites both want access to a network, they should both have equal response times.
Collapse of net neutrality
- Net neutrality is now being threatened, because companies are interested in paying Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to prioritise their traffic.
Impacts of net neutrality collapsing
- If net neutrality collapses it could mean that the large, rich technology companies could have more control over the traffic of the Internet.
- They could pay to have their traffic prioritised over their competitors.
Positive counter-argument
- Being able to provide priority access to a certain group of people may have some positive impacts.
- Priority access could be given to time-critical services in times of crisis.
- For example, healthcare and emergency services after a natural disaster.
- Or the military during a conflict.
Test yourself on Ethical Issues - Net Neutrality
What is net neutrality?
In which country is net neutrality particularly threatened?