I don’t believe that the US embracing net neutrality will automatically enforce the principle around the world, but I am confident that it couldn’t get very far without American approval. The United States is deeply invested in setting the world’s policy agenda, whether it be through legal means such as the copyright-enforcing Trans-Pacific Partnership (which is still being negotiated) or extra-legal ones as used to undermine the Castro regime in Cuba. Edward Snowden’s revelations about the NSA and the Five Eyes spying network also show a country that’s actively manipulating and exploiting the internet in destructive ways, forcing others like Brazil to consider breaking off from the global network. American control over the internet is deliberate and a recognition of net neutrality by this hegemon can only be a good thing.

I love it when people are super cynical about how the US government will always serve companies before it serves the people, and then something like this happens.

When the people make their voices head, and make their voices clear, the US government will react and it will change.

posted 3364 days ago