Readings

The readings for this week focus on net neutrality and online censorship,

Network Neutrality

These readings provide background into what net neutrality is:

• Is Net Neutrality Good or Bad for Innovation?

• These are the FCC's full rules for protecting net neutrality

• What is net neutrality and what does it mean for me?

These articles argue for net neutrality:

• Net Neutrality: What You Need to Know Now

• The internet is fucked (again)

• If Trump Fans Love Freedom, They Should Love Net Neutrality

• Wozniak & Copps: Ending net neutrality will end the Internet as we know it

These articles argue against net neutrality:

• There’s nothing neutral about net neutrality

• Thoughts on Network Neutrality, the FCC, and the Future of Internet Governance

• Why Net Neutrality Isn't Worth Celebrating

• Net neutrality hurts health care and helps porn, Republican senator claims

These articles are about the recent move to end net neutrality:

• FCC chair wants to replace net neutrality with “voluntary” commitments

• Ajit Pai announces plan to eliminate Title II net neutrality rules

• Net neutrality rules took away your Internet freedom, FCC chair claims

• The FCC is actively working against consumers

Online Censorship

These articles discuss online censorship in China:

• China says terrorism, fake news impel greater global internet curbs

• Scaling China's Great Firewall

• A Week Behind The Great Firewall Of China

• China announces mass shutdown of VPNs that bypass Great Firewall

These articles discuss how various technology companies have dealt with online censorship in China:

• Shi Tao: China frees journalist jailed over Yahoo emails

• Facebook Said to Create Censorship Tool to Get Back Into China

• Why Google Quit China-and Why It's Heading Back

• Apple Removes New York Times Apps From Its Store in China

These article discuss how technology companies are performing some form of online censorship in relation to terrorism:

• Microsoft’s approach to terrorist content online

• Twitter Suspends 300,000 Accounts Tied to Terrorism in 2017

• YouTube says it's removing terrorist and extremist content faster

• Facebook reveals measures to remove terrorist content

These article discuss how technology companies are performing some form of online censorship in relation to hate groups:

• Twitter suspends alt-right figureheads

• Facebook bans white nationalist’s accounts over hate speech

• Why We Terminated Daily Stormer

• The far-right’s favorite social network is facing its own censorship controversy

• Nazi forums closed as Reddit purges 'violent content'

These article discuss how such online censorship can be dangerous:

• The New Censorship

• How Facebook censors your posts (FAQ)

• The Terrifying Power of Internet Censors

• The New Era of Corporate Censorship

Questions

Please write a response to one of the following questions:

1. From the readings, what exactly is Net Neutrality? Explain in your own words the arguments for and against Net Neutrality. After examining the topic, where do you stand on the issues surrounding Net Neutrality?

   • If you are in favor of Net Neutrality, explain how you would implement or enforce it. How would you respond to concerns about possible over-regulation, burdening corporations, or preventing innovation?

   • If you are against Net Neutrality, explain why it is unnecessary or undesirable. How would you respond to concerns about providing level playing fields or preventing unfair discrimination by service providers?

   In either case, discuss whether or not you consider that "the Internet is a public service and fair access should be a basic right". Additionally, do you have trust in an unbridled free market or does the government have a role to play in ensuring a level playing field?

2. From the readings, what are the ethical, social, and moral concerns regarding online censorship? Should governments be able to suppress certain forms of speech? Should technology companies engage in the suppression of speech performed on their platforms? Consider the following:

   • Is it ethical for companies to remove dissenting opinions for governments?

   • Is it ethical for companies to remove information broadcasted by terrorism organizations, or about terrorism organizations?

   • Is it ethical for companies to remove discriminatory, provocative, hateful content generated by its users?

   • Is it ethical for companies to remove information that does not promote or share their interests or political beliefs?

   Finally, what is your take on the removal of the Daily Stormer website by various technology services? How do you feel about companies removing Nazi, fascist, or Alt-Right affliated content from online platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Reddit? Are you concerned about online censorship? Why or why not?

Feedback

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding the course, please provide your feedback at the end of your response.