Net Neutrality
What Is Net Neutrality?
- Network neutrality ensures that all data on the internet is treated equally by internet service providers (ISPs) and governments, regardless of content, user, platform, application, or device.
- For users, net neutrality enables access and transparency of internet content and allows access to all internet services and applications.
- Net neutrality argues that the internet should be accessible to everyone and requires all ISPs to provide the same level of data access and speed to all traffic and traffic to one service or website cannot be blocked or degraded.
Key features of Net Neutrality:
- Network neutrality ensures that all data on the internet is treated equally by ISPs and governments, regardless of content, user, platform, application, or device.
- Net neutrality policy discussions target issues such as blocking or filtering online content, and preferential internet speeds based on business agreements.
Is There Net Neutrality in India?
- In 2017, India developed some of the strictest net neutrality laws in the world.
- Policymakers and Indian activists, with a desire to promote an open internet and widespread internet access to the nation’s citizens, advocated together for net neutrality laws.
- Service providers who violate these regulations face losing their license to operate.
Syllabus: Prelims
