Save the internet?

This site does a good job of distorting the net neutrality debate. According to the group, it is really evil Google who wants to stick consumers with a bigger bill, not the ISPs, who they claim, are only looking out for the people’s best interests. And the criticism that ISPs are blocking sites they don’t like or agree with? Well, this group says, that only happened in Canada, so it doesn’t really matter. I’d say that matters a great deal.

The CBC looked into the groups claims. In 2005, Canadian telecom giant Telus blocked a pro-union website supporting striking Telus workers. And the cable company Shaw blocked the VoIP service Vonage in an attempt to get consumers to cough up an extra $10 a month. The CBC also found a few other claims, including one of AOL blocking email critical of the company.

Of course, when groups like this say there have “only” been a few instances, they want to lull the public into a false sense of security. No one is going to try to reshape the internet overnight. If they did, there owuld be a massive public outcry. Instead, the strategy is to try to push a liitle at a time and hope no one notices or is too bothered. Well, even one instance of a website being blocked for political reasons bothers me.

TagsAOL, Canada, CBC, Telus, VoIP