A couple of developments in network neutrality.
The Broadband Stakeholders Group have announced an update to its Open Internet Code of Practice, which has already been signed by a number of UK ISPs. The previous version of this voluntary code concentrated on transparency, by requiring those who signed up to document their traffic management practices. The new code requires additional commitments that those who sign will only describe products as offering “Internet access” if that access is subject to no more than a specified level of traffic management, and that such products will form the majority of their portfolio.
The latest meeting of the UN Human Rights Council has also confirmed its support for network neutrality by adopting a declaration that recognises “the global and open nature of the Internet as a driving force in accelerating progress towards development in its various forms” and calls for human rights, in particular free speech, to be respected on line as they are off line. Declaring something to be a Human Right doesn’t mean it must be provided, but does mean that there are only certain reasons for which it can be restricted or withdrawn.
