Net Neutrality

Net neutrality means that the Internet has no gatekeeper. It encompasses all the issues related to the circulation of information on the Internet, such as free speech, access to knowledge, copyright or innovation. Thanks to this principle, everyone retain the freedom to access and produce the information they want.

But this funding principle of the Internet is now under threat, as some telecom operators and content industries want to develop business-models based on the prioritization of certain information flows by taking control of the network. Also, governments threaten Net neutrality by seeking to implement filtering techniques in order to re-establish the kind of control they used to have on traditional and unidirectional media.

Quad'news

Press review

Timeline

Future

  • February 2012 - EU regulators are expected to publish a study on telecoms operators' traffic management practices

Past

  • December 13th, 2011 - EU Members States adopts conclusions stressing the need to "preserve the open and neutral character of the Internet and consider net neutrality as a policy objective"
  • November 17th, 2011 - The EU Parliament adopts a resolution calling on the Commission to swiftly assess the need for further regulation
  • September 22nd, 2011 - La Quadrature and Bits of Freedom release RespectMyNet.eu, a citizen reporting platform for Net neutrality violations in the EU
  • April 19th, 2011 - The Commission releases a very disappointing report on Net neutrality.
  • April 13th, 2011 - French MEPs releases a encouraging report, calling for the legislative protection of Net neutrality.
  • September 30th, 2010 - Deadline for the European Commission's public consultation on Net Neutrality

LQDN on Net neutrality at EU Commission

Jérémie Zimmermann's intervention at the EU Commission Summit about Net Neutrality.

Dossier

Quote

We stand for a single internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas. And we recognize that the world’s information infrastructure will become what we and others make of it. Now, this challenge may be new, but our responsibility to help ensure the free exchange of ideas goes back to the birth of our republic.

Hillary Clinton, U.S. Secretary of State - Remarks on Internet freedom, Jan 21st, 2010.