free hit counter

"Save the Internet" News, Censorship and Solutions

What you need to know about the FCC's new net neutrality proposal

Dusting off old regulations won't protect free, open Internet

The Internet is and will continue to be an indispensable part of the lives of Floridians and all Americans. As we grow more dependent on it for everyday tasks, ensuring fair and open Internet access will continue to be a priority.

In the early days of the Internet, Congress and regulators intentionally left the Internet free from burdensome regulation. This bipartisan decision to keep government’s hands off the Internet has been responsible for leaps in innovation and investment – making America a global leader in broadband development. Revolutionary ways to connect with other people around the world online; billion dollar smart phone applications; near-instantaneous Internet speeds; the list of truly life-altering innovations goes on and on.

No one disagrees that the Internet should be free and open. The president’s plan just does not accomplish that goal.

We have all benefitted from a system that incentivizes broadband providers to be the fastest and most reliable consumer access to the Internet.

Over the last six years, however, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has tried to assert more control over this valuable American resource. The courts have already overturned two sets of FCC rules, but this so-called “independent agency” is poised to vote this week on its most aggressive rules yet.

At the urging of President Obama, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler submitted a proposal that included more drastic changes and regulations than ever before. This government takeover of the Internet follows the President’s position that reclassification of broadband services to Title II common carrier status – which were originally designed and implemented to protect against 1930s monopolies– is the only option.

Dusting off regulations from the Roosevelt-era will not protect a free and open Internet. They will not benefit consumers. They will not spur innovation. They will not encourage a young entrepreneur to develop a new innovative app, or a company to develop new “smart” appliances.

Consumers – yes, you, reader – will be most hurt by this proposal. A whole host of new regulations and years of uncertainty will come. Even worse, this plan opens the door to billions of dollars in new fees on your Internet service, while putting nearly $45 Billion of new investments at risk over the next five years.

Do you like streaming live sports or network TV on your computer or mobile device? The agreements that allow you to do that quickly and reliably will now be subject to new, untested regulations. This unknown regulatory landscape is likely to reduce future investments in services that many consumers rely upon.

Small businesses across the country are also put in jeopardy from these rules. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2015/02/26/net-neutrality-debate-dusting-off-old-regulations-wont-protect-free-open/

Facebook Is Reading Your Messages and Liking Things For You

Facebook Is Reading Your Messages and Liking Things For You

You might think clicking "Like" is the only way to stamp that public FB affirmation on something—you're wrong. Facebook is checking your private messages and automatically liking things you talk about. Without asking you.

The scanning, which is either an oversight on Facebook's part of a deliberate effort—we're waiting to hear back from FB—increases the Like count for a given page just by you talking about it. Auto-scanning is nothing new: Gmail has done it since day one to serve us ads. But there are serious potential personal consequences here—what if I'm talking about something disgusting, loathsome, and offensive with a friend? Do I want Facebook to automatically chalk that up as a Like? No. And I doubt you do either.

http://gizmodo.com/5948948/facebook-is-reading-your-messages-and-li...

Load Previous Replies
  • up

    Marklar

    I was wondering why you liked:

    Pedophile priests

    Islamic Jihad

    The Klu Klux Klan

    The First Church of Satan

    Snuff Films

    and 2 girls one cup,

    on your Facebook account.

    INTERVIEWEE: I WTF what, where?

    INTERVIEWER: It's all right here in black and white.

    INTERVIEWEE: (Crying) I just want to learn how to use the shake machine and super size stuff.

    INTERVIEWER: I hear the TSA is hiring,.....

    • up

      Richard Harper

      Facebook is a huge spying apparatus, and I can't believe so many people didn't recognize it for what it was when it was first introduced. Not only that, it's detrimental to society in that it suppresses normal human interaction. It disconnects us from one another spiritually and physically.

      It's also a huge waste of time. Go outside and smell the flowers.

      • up

        Bob Bishop

        The only way to avoid this is to use private servers, all of the corporate sites do it.