Given the widespread interest in the various declinations of net neutrality – neutrality of the Net, of services / applications, of platforms, etc. – in relation to Citizenship Rights on the Web, we point out the recent review by the shareholder Fulvio Ananasso on internet regulation "Net neutrality, the evolution of rules in Italy, Europe, USA" (http://www.forumpa.it/pa-digitale/infrastruttura-ananasso-neutralita-e-diritti-di-cittadinanza-in-rete), also in the light of the approval (July 7th) in the Transport Committee in the Chamber from the Quintarelli law proposal "Provisions on the provision of internet services for the protection of competition and freedom of access for users".
The issues relating to Net Neutrality and Citizenship Rights on the Net are closely connected and interdependent. Some actors wish in this respect a “regulatory holiday”, arguing that too stringent regulation would limit innovation. Others stakeholders they claim that the Internet is an essential right that must be guaranteed tout court as a universal service. In the USA the path taken by the FCC is focused on consumer protection, in the EU the debate is still open on “specialized services', common position on zero ratings – practice of mobile network operators and ISPs of not charging customers for data used by specific internet applications or services through their network -, disputes between Telco and OTT, etc.
Given that the Net has no geographical boundaries, it would be desirable to converge on common rules in the USA and the EU. An excellent synthesis in this regard is provided by the "Declaration of Internet Freedom” setup by Free Press (“How to Save the Internet”). Basically, in order to guarantee a free and open network, participatory and transparent processes are called for governance And policy of the internet, with five basic principles:
- promote freedom of expression and the absence of censorship on the internet;
- promote universal access to fast and affordable networks;
- maintain the internet as an open network where everyone is free to connect, communicate, write, read, watch, speak, listen, learn, create and innovate;
- protect the freedom to innovate, choose and create without barriers of any kind, do not block new technologies and do not punish innovators for the actions of their users;
- protect the privacy and advocate for everyone to control how their data and devices are being used.
