Assignment 4: Thoughts on Network Neutrality

Net Neutrality: the guiding concept behind everything that we are able to do on the Web. It assures users that access to the Web and its content will not be blocked, slowed down, or sped up depending on where that access is based or who owns the access point(s).

     There are multiple pros and cons to net neutrality. Net neutrality provides a sense of freedom on the web. It provides Non-Discriminetory access - basically every website and web searcher are treated the same. The sense of freedom allows people to express their creativity that potentially leads to innovations such as Google, Youtube, Etsy etc. Also, net neutrality creates a competitive market place since most people only have access to a couple internet service providers. The cons to net neutrality include issues that cable providers have and issues with legislation. Cable providers are generally against net neutrality since they believe in tiered access - paying for different levels of internet service. Therefore this would cause larger companies to pay which would finance network improvements. The issue with legislation is that the internet changes so quickly that it results in inadequate laws that can provide loopholes for unethical behavior. There is obviously two different views of net neutrality that all web users should take into consideration.

     Recently in the news a federal appeals court ruled that the FCC doesn't have the right to enforce the rules of net neutrality. The court declared that the government is in charge over overseeing "crucial" utilities like telephone service and electricity - therefore saying that internet connection is not a crucial service under current law. The FCC has suggested appealing the ruling. However, everybody who accesses the internet does it through a service provider - one that most likely has been pushing to control tiered access. The providers argue that they provide a service and therefore should be able to control how they deliver it and how they charge customers for it. This is an issue for everyone because even though the service providers would target large companies to charge more, the cost can trickle down to every day users. For example, if a service provider were to charge Netflix more, Netflix would ultimately have to result in charging its customers more.    

      The issue of net neutrality is tied to the topic of freedom of speech. The new ruling for net neutrality essentially means that a few phone and cable companies can rule the internet. Without net neutrality it makes it easy for these companies to make it harder for users to communicate online and essentially can censor users speech. Companies will also be able to block content they don't like, reject apps that compete with their offerings, and can prioritize web traffic.These actions create a sense of lack of privacy for users which ultimately makes it less open and secure.

      The recent news about net neutrality would affect me in various ways. For one, if my service provider told me I had to pay more for faster internet, I simply couldn't do that because I can not afford to pay anymore than I already do. So is that saying that me, a college student, should suffer through slower internet and sacrifice potential time that I could spend educating myself? Also, I blog regularly on a separate website. If service providers were allowed to censor what I had available on my blogs feed, it would affect the enjoyment I receive and make sharing more difficult. 

     I stand against the effort of removing net neutrality. I think it absolutely interferes with the first ammendment and the enjoyment people receive through using the internet as a tool of expression. I, along with many other people, would not enjoy paying more money for better service. It makes sense from a corporate view point - these companies will absolutely make more money - but I don't think that gives them the right to take away users rights. 

Other Sources:

http://www.savetheinternet.com/net-neutrality

This site explained how net neutrality relates to freedom of speech.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/welcome-to-the-net-neutrality-nightmare-scenario

This site explains the net neutrality incident in more detail, also showing both sides of the argument.

Social Media and Privacy

From the Newsweek article: When Rape Goes Viral we see that social media is challenging us to confront sexual assault head-on. Unfortunately it is destroying the privacy and lives of victims. Read the article and discuss the privacy implications of social media and dealing with issues like the ones mentioned in the article. 

     The situations discussed in this article are heavily controversial subjects. In the twenty first century not only do we need to worry about heinous crimes such as rape, but we also have to worry about our private lives being publicized for people to either make a mockery of, or defend. The issue of whether or not to publicize videos and pictures of rape as evidence is just as challenging as it is controversial. If the media gets published, there is a better chance that there will be justice for the victim; however, the victim's most vulnerable moment is now all over the internet. That sudden amount of negative fame can lead to a various amount of implications which in some cases have led to suicide. In the article, When Rape Goes Viral, Harding states, 

"...We have to do our best as activists and journalists to either find out what the victim would want or at least consider that question... If we don't have access to that info, we have to do our best to be empathetic and try to imagine what the victim would want."

Harding has a strong strategy for what to do in defense of the media of rape being publicized in order to protect the victim. The victim should have the right to choose whether they want this information available to the public or not; just because it increase the chance of justice does not mean that it will make the life of the victim any easier.

I Have Nothing to Hide

"When confronted with the issue of diminishing privacy online, some people respond with "I have nothing to hide... so it does not affect me." 
What are some reasons that we should all be concerned about privacy and how concerned are you about online privacy?"

     There are multiple reasons as to why we should all be concerned about privacy when it comes to the Internet. For one, just because someone has "nothing to hide" does not necessarily mean that they don't have information that they want to keep private. For example, not many people would feel comfortable with their e-mail being displayed publicly, or their address to their home. Just because the information that is available isn't controversial does not mean that people want it given to the public. Another reason we should be concerned is the amount of control that the government possesses over people's way of connecting whether its phone calls, social media, or e-commerce sites. In the documentary, "Terms and Conditions May Apply" there were various scenarios in which individuals posted a status on Facebook or a tweet on Twitter that resulted in investigations into their private lives by federal officials; all over a tweet. The law enforcement defends themselves by saying that they are just trying to protect the country; however, one must ask is the secret service interrogating a seventh grade boy taking it a little too far?

     I never really thought in depth about online privacy until watching the documentary "Terms and Conditions May Apply". I have always been aware of what I post on social media. I do remember when I was applying to college and everyone in my class was changing their Facebook names so college officials could not find them. I thought this was foolish, but I did try it myself; and no matter what I changed my name to, as soon as I typed in Francesca Genello my Facebook page was the first option that appeared on Google. At the time I thought nothing of it. But now looking back I realize that in no way could I delete what was put online. Its frightening to admit but I do agree with most of the people featured in the documentary, that privacy is dead.

"We can't jump off bridges anymore because our iPhones will get ruined. We can't take skinny dips in the ocean, because there's no service on the beach and adventures aren't real unless they're on Instagram. Technology has doomed the spontaneity of adventure and we're helping destroy is every time we Google, Check-In, and hashtag" ~Jeremy Glass, We Can't Get Lost Anymore

The technology that is available now is absolutely amazing, and I am so thankful for all the opportunities that arise from it however I believe that social networking has begun to take over society's way of communicating. Everywhere I go I see people on their phones; while they're walking, eating, in the elevator, in class, and all these are while being surrounded by other people. I find it rather sad. I believe that people are missing out on extraordinary things in life because they're glued to their phone. People use phones and social networking as a shield from the rest of the world. It's used to create alternate lives of the person you want to be, or the person that other people want you to be. Social networking can limit individuality when someone is trying to fit in with everyone else by posting similar things.

I'm not one to scold others for being on their phone all the time. I have definitely done my share of using my phone to much while in the company of other people; however, I'm trying to limit the use of my phone. There are so many beautiful things to see, places to go, and people to be with that you can't find through a screen on your phone.