MEPs have voted to uphold Net Neutrality proposals.
http://www.greens-efa.eu/electronic-communications -12163.html
https://pirateparty.org.uk/press/euope-takes-leap- toward-net-neutrality
After the vote, Greens/EFA e-communications spokesperson Amelia Andersdotter stated:
Thankfully, a majority of MEPs has seen sense today and voted to uphold the principle of net neutrality in the EU. The proposals by the Commission, which would essentially have given large providers the all-clear for discriminating against users as they see fit, have been revised. Today's vote would explicitly provide for net neutrality and will hopefully ensure a level playing field for all online services and users, providing for a more open internet environment in which innovation is encouraged.
We now hope EU governments in Council will endorse this approach. Information online should not be subject to discrimination, blocking or interference by internet access providers. This is what net neutrality implies: guaranteeing an open and free internet, where everyone can have access and contribute to the same online information. Clearly, today's vote is important but we will have to remain vigilant to ensure any future threats to net neutrality can be headed off.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by lhsi on Thursday April 03 2014, @11:54AM
The BBC have two articles on this, one reporting on the Net Neurtality: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26865869 [bbc.co.uk]
The other regarding another part of the bill, scrapping mobile roaming charges when abroad: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-26866966 [bbc.co.uk]
(Score: 2, Interesting) by Rivenaleem on Thursday April 03 2014, @12:17PM
In relation to part 2, Meteor (a mobile phone company in Ireland) do not have any European roaming charges. http://www.meteor.ie/do_more/roaming/ [meteor.ie]
(Score: 2, Informative) by Silentknyght on Thursday April 03 2014, @02:02PM
IMO, the first of the BBC articles provides a lot more information than TFA. First, "The law still needs to be approved by Europe's Council of Ministers," and second, "A spokeswoman for the European Commission said that if the net neutrality proposal cleared its remaining hurdles, it could become law by the end of the year."
So... not yet a law, but maybe by year's-end. And then, I wonder how long a window the law will provide for subscribers before they actually need to be in compliance.
(Score: 5, Informative) by Thexalon on Thursday April 03 2014, @12:35PM
She's also the first MEP elected under the Pirate Party ticket at age 24, the youngest person ever to do so. Calling her a "e-communications spokesperson" is improperly equating her to the various PR flaks that usually get that title.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by lhsi on Thursday April 03 2014, @02:10PM
That part was copied directly from the Greens/EFA website.
(Score: 2) by d on Thursday April 03 2014, @01:46PM
Does this mean that UK will finally have to STFU about "child porn"?
(Score: 2) by d on Thursday April 03 2014, @01:55PM
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7521983 [ycombinator.com]
Looks like not. So, I guess that not much changed for end users and we still another legislation.