Vaizey announces an internet 'fast lane'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Government plans to abandon one of the founding principles of the internet by letting service providers charge money for a "two-tier" service prioritising some websites.
Net neutrality – the principle that all internet traffic should be treated equally – is one of the cornerstones of cyberspace and ensures that providers like BT, Virgin or Sky give a simple blog the same level of access as a website for a major corporation or institution. But in a speech yesterday the Communications minister Ed Vaizey signalled the Government's intention to abandon net neutrality in favour of a system where providers could charge money for a better and quicker service.
The proposals would allow internet service providers (ISPs) to effectively create "fast lanes" and "slow lanes" for the internet, with websites only having access to the fast lane if they pay.
Campaigners have attacked the proposals as amounting to the death of democracy online but the Government says the changes are needed for future internet upgrades.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments