Evil Inequality in the Works for the Web
MEDIA, 16 Aug 2010
Laura Flanders, GRITtv – The Nation
Google’s corporate motto, it’s been noted, is “Don’t Be Evil.” They’re going to be sorry they ever said it. By siding with Verizon vs. those fighting for a free and equal Internet — that may be exactly what they’re doing.
The Internet and telecom giants Verizon and Google have reportedly reached an agreement that sells out net neutrality. They make it sound like a victory for fairness — they’ll stand by equal access for everyone on the wired web. But the arrangement, not yet public and arrived at in closed door meetings between the behemoths, would enable Verizon to impose tiers and charge for quicker access over wireless devices.That’s the future they’re talking about.
The deal comes just as the Federal Communications Commission and major telecom giants are crafting new regulations that could last a generation. As we’ve been rehashing the Constitution lately, maybe it bears reminding that we learned years ago that separate’s not equal.
Offering freedom but not for wireless users is tantamount to telling independent producers we are free to communicate and do business — but only by tin-can or pony express, while the big boys rule the mobile superhighway.
We at GRITtv exist as noncommercial media thanks to your donations, and maybe we’re being selfish by calling for neutrality. Costs on bandwidth would make getting our show to you online much, much more expensive, and so would the ads.
Yet if it would make things harder for us, how much harder would it be for that independent producer—or even citizen journalist—who happened to be at the right place at the right time with a camera. It’s not just browsing that’s endangered by a class system of communications. It’s our ability to challenge that class system, for example, and hold governments and corporations–like Google and Verizon—accountable. Maybe it’s not just profits they’re after, after all.
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.