Ma'at Kheru: On Network Neutrality

[Prussia]

So this will be going up to vote in a few hours.
[quote="On Network Neutrality", Proposed by Auralia.]

Recognizing the paramount importance of the Internet in education, industry and communications,

Aware that the Internet has no centralized governance, and that Internet access is largely provided by private sector entities in many World Assembly member nations,

Believing that limited international regulation of the Internet is necessary to prevent anti-competitive behaviour by Internet service providers,

The General Assembly,

1.Defines "the Internet" as the publicly accessible worldwide system of interconnected telecommunications networks using the Internet protocol suite to communicate with one another;

2.Further defines "Internet service provider" as any business or public entity that regularly offers access to the Internet;

3. Declares that member nations must require Internet service providers to:

a.allow authorized users of their network to access and use the legal Internet content, applications and services of their choice within the bandwidth limits and quality of service of their service plan,

b.allow authorized users of their network to connect to the Internet using a legal device of their choice,

c.clearly inform authorized users of their network of any discrimination between legal Internet content, applications and services on their network, and

d.refrain from unjust discrimination between legal Internet content, and applications and services on their network, including but not limited to discrimination that has a substantial anti-competitive effect;

4. Further declares that member nations have the right to determine for themselves whether to adopt more restrictive network neutrality regulations, within the confines of this and previous World Assembly resolutions;

5. Clarifies that nothing in this resolution:

a.creates an affirmative obligation for Internet service providers to provide access to their networks or to refrain from charging for access to their networks,

b.requires Internet service providers to take any action or refrain from taking any action when doing so would endanger national security, law enforcement activities or the security or stability of the network, or

c.prohibits member nations from regulating Internet-enabled devices or Internet content, application and services.[/quote]

What are y'all's thoughts on this bill?

[Prussia]

AGAINST

This should be something that member states handle themselves and not the GA.

[Raxion]

Well, voting for my nation, I would definitely say against. Internet access gives Raxion's citizens access to liberals who will tell them that life can be better.

[Venico]

Lol, I agree with Prussia on this one.

[Mousebumples]

I'm also against. Although, for the record, the wording of many clauses within this resolution contains the following clause that mostly renders the resolution moot: b.requires Internet service providers to take any action or refrain from taking any action when doing so would endanger national security, law enforcement activities or the security or stability of the network - (emphasis mine)

ISPs could certainly claim that any changes that go against their monetary interests (or other non-monetary interests) "endanger the security/stability of the network" and therefore escape compliance entirely.

Of course, this makes me even less inclined to vote in favor because if it does nothing, what's the point?