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Some of the world's biggest tech companies joined forces with 80,000 websites in support of the "Internet-Wide Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality".
Key Points:
- Net neutrality is a principle that says all data on the internet is equal
- Trump-appointed FCC chairman wants to wind back Obama-era protections
- Companies like Facebook, Google, Amazon joined action to support net neutrality
No, you didn't just step into a time machine and head back to 2014 when this battle was last fought.
The fight is very much back on in 2017.
Here's why Facebook, Google, Netflix and others marched on the virtual streets again.
It's been three years. Here's a reminder on what net neutrality is
It's a broad principle that says all data on the internet should be treated equally. Your personal blog, for example, should be given the same access to the internet as a major international news website.
It's supposed to stop internet service providers selling a "fast lane" version of the internet to big companies and relegating your personal blog to the "slow lane" unless you pay up.
It was bit of an unspoken agreement on the internet, but the Obama administration made it an official rule in 2015.
You probably saw that viral John Oliver video at the time.
Like most things in 2017, this new fight is linked to Donald Trump
The new head of US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Ajit Pai, appointed by Mr Trump when he came into office in January, wants to change the 2015 net neutrality rules.
This is getting a little in the weeds, but he wants to repeal the rules that reclassified internet service providers as if they were utilities.
Mr Pai has said the rules harm jobs and investment and amount to "the government controlling the internet".
He's not the only one who wants changes.
Major US internet providers, including AT&T and Verizon acknowledge the public support for net neutrality, but argue the 2015 net neutrality reclassification order could lead to government regulation.
Some of the biggest companies and websites in the world backed the Internet-Wide Day of Action
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his profile, "Right now, the FCC has rules in place to make sure the internet continues to be an open platform for everyone. At Facebook, we strongly support those rules."
Google released a public policy blog post, which said the "internet has grown to become an unrivalled source of choice, competition, innovation, free expression, and opportunity. And it should stay that way."
Twitter expressed support for the existing rules, encouraging users to protest while promoting the hashtag #NetNeutrality.
"Net Neutrality is foundational to competitive, free enterprise, entrepreneurial market entry — and reaching global customers. You don't have to be a big shot to compete. Anyone with a great idea, a unique perspective to share, and a compelling vision can get in the game," Twitter said in a blog.
Online forum Reddit displayed a pop-up message that slowly loaded the text, "The internet's less fun when your favourite sites load slowly, isn't it?"
Netflix displayed banners on top of the home page while Amazon posted a short video explaining net neutrality, urging consumers to send comments to the FCC.
Tim Berners-Lee, who's widely credited as one of the inventors of the internet, even released a video about it:
This doesn't affect Australia, but there's debate about introducing similar rules
Professor of Intellectual Property and innovation at the Queensland University of Technology, Dr Matthew Rimmer, told Radio National the issue was discussed when the NBN was being set up.
But there isn't a rule like the one introduced in the US in 2015.
"We don't have a public interest concept of network neutrality," he said.
"In Australia we have to rely on consumer law and competition policy to try and deal with such concerns."
Dr Rimmer said he encouraged Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to look at adopting the principle of net neutrality in Australia.
"Given that it may boost start-ups, innovators, investors and entrepreneurs in Australia," he said.
Here's what happens next
More than 550,000 comments have been filed in the last day with the FCC and more than 6.3 million filed to date and thousands of people called Capitol Hill offices to express concerns.
The public has until mid-August to send comments to the FCC before the final vote.
Reuters/ABC
Topics: internet-technology, science-and-technology, computers-and-technology, united-states