Internet Regulation

If you could make an internet regulation, what would it be? Why? Or, if you believe we have too many regulations as it is, why? How do you propose we handle internet problems like harassment and more?

Bring back Net Neutrality. I wouldn’t make an internet regulation I would just bring back Net Neutrality for the country. The ability for ISPs to create internet fast lanes and that in turn would create slow lanes will hamper the growth of the internet and stifle voices. It’s strange to see companies like Facebook, Netflix, and Amazon ever to agree on one thing but they all support Net Neutrality. Right now there is a bill in the U.S Congress “Save the Internet Act”, which would reinstate Net Neutrality rules. It’s passed he House, but Republican leaders in the Senate and President Trump say they would stop the bill’s passage. California is also moving forward with its own Net Neutrality rule and is currently being suing by the Trump Administration.

Problems like harassment will never go away. Removing some of the anonymity of the internet might decrease harassment. The anonymous digital world allows people to act out in ways they would not in real life. If everyone had to identify as themselves and not hide behind some fake avatars, the digital world might be a little more civilized. It would force us all to see the other person as a real individual with their own lives, emotions, and problems. There is an other side of the coin, the anonymity allowed by the internet does enable some people hide behind digital avatars and tell things about themselves that would create more harassment. I’m not sure how to square that circle when coming to anonymity.

Maybe the only way to fix online harassment is to strengthen laws that punish harassers. However, punishment only works after the damage might be done and punishment is not be a good enough deterrent for some individuals.