4 ms·
> How can something on the internet be a common carrier when the internet itself is not a common carrier? Because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it s
by epigen 5y ago
> How can something on the internet be a common carrier when the internet itself is not a common carrier?
Because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean that it shouldn't happen.
Maybe Google is the last straw that leads to proper governance of utilities in the public's interest.
- babypuncher 5y agoThe problem is that the Republicans trying to declare tech companies "common carriers" pretty much lied through their teeth 4 years ago when they argued that ISPs are absolutely not common carriers, in opposition of overwhelming popular opinion to the contrary.
- epigen 5y agoYes, the problem is Republicans. And yes, that problem has yet to be solved.
- adamcstephens 5y agoRepublicans are a problem, but so are Democrats. We need more than two parties.
- zackees 5y agoISPs aren’t censoring people, Big Tech is, and BigTech were always exempt from all net neutrality laws. So your comment is factually wrong.
- babypuncher 5y agoAm I "censoring people" if I ask a customer to leave my restaurant and never return while he is in the middle of a loud racist rant? Facebook and Twitter are not critical infrastructure. Nobody has to use them. They are private platforms their owners invited you to. I choose not to use these services, and anyone else who doesn't like them is free to do the same. People do not have the choice to avoid using telephone or mail services, which is why they are regulated as common carriers. It is nearly impossible to function in modern society without access to mail and telephone service. The argument for net neutrality rests on the idea that general internet access is also a requirement in order to be a functional member of society.
- l33t2328 5y agoIt’s kind of analogous to the way TCP can be a reliable service built on unreliable IP.