2 ms·
Interesting to see this come through effectively at the same time as the law granting powers that allows the government to ban TikTok and others in the future.
by _heimdall 3y ago
Interesting to see this come through effectively at the same time as the law granting powers that allows the government to ban TikTok and others in the future.
I can't help but assume there's a connection there. I also don't know why the new law allowing a ban on foreign influenced social media would be necessary if the FCC decides again that it can regulate ISPs as utilities. Weren't the powers there already strong enough to force an ISP-level ban on a service deemed a national security threat?
- pseudalopex 3y agoYour assumption is wrong. The net neutrality fight is older than TikTok. The process for this vote started in September. It would have started in 2021 if Biden's FCC nominee was approved. The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act does not involve the FCC. Regulating ISPs as utilities does not empower the FCC to force ISPs to block services. Never mind regulate app stores and hosting services.
- _heimdall 3y agoI wasn't actually proposing that the FCC would have the power to remove apps from the app store, only that they could force ISPs to block specific servers. I was thinking the FCC regulations would have that power to implement such a ban based on national security, though I could be wrong. I'd have to look back at the Patriot Act as well, I'd expect that to offer similar powers but I don't remember for sure.