Press release November 20, 2017
United States: Ending ‘Net Neutrality’ Could Reduce Access to Information
Repealing net neutrality would allow internet service providers to become an arbiter of what types of content consumers can access and at what speeds and price.
Washington
In response to the U.S. Federal Communications Commission announcing plans to repeal rules ensuring equal treatment of internet traffic, the policy known as “net neutrality,” Freedom House issued the following statement:
“Repealing net neutrality would allow internet service providers to become an arbiter of what types of content consumers can access and at what speeds and price,” said Michael J. Abramowitz, president of Freedom House. “This change could limit free access to diverse sources of information, and could also set a dangerous precedent for countries that model their policy on Washington’s. In less democratic countries, where most providers of online content are state-owned and censored, authorities would have an excuse to give faster lanes of access to progovernment outlets.”
The United States is rated Free in Freedom in the World 2017, Free in Freedom of the Press 2017, and Free in Freedom on the Net 2017.