net neutrality

Why 2017 will be a make-or-break year for Internet freedom

2017 is here, and it's clear it will be a make-or-break year for Internet freedom. Around the world, our digital rights are under threat as never before. Let's take a look at some of the big challenges ahead.

In Canada, the federal government will soon be publishing its response to the national security consultation that closed in December. It's abundantly clear that Canadians want the government to repeal Bill C-51 and deliver strong privacy rules to make us safe -- but will the government listen, especially against the backdrop of a full-on RCMP propaganda campaign calling for even more invasive spy powers?

Tags:

Comments

We welcome your comments! rabble.ca embraces a pro-human rights, pro-feminist, anti-racist, queer-positive, anti-imperialist and pro-labour stance, and encourages discussions which develop progressive thought. Our full comment policy can be found here. Learn more about Disqus on rabble.ca and your privacy here. Please keep in mind:

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

'Listen to Canadians, aim higher for Canada, and protect innovation for all' -- OpenMedia at today's #EndDataCaps CRTC hearings

Aleks Besan

| November 4, 2016

Your OpenMedia team was at it again this morning, making history at the CRTC hearings in Gatineau, where we mounted a strong defence of net neutrality and called for an end to data caps for Canadian Internet users. Here is your quick summary of today's major events.

Appearing in front of CRTC Chairman, Jean-Pierre Blais and his fellow commissioners, our dream team of Executive Director Laura Tribe, Campaigns Director Josh Tabish, Digital Rights Specialist Katy Anderson, and our incredibly smart external counsel Cynthia Khoo presented a stellar case to end data caps, ban differential pricing (a.k.a. zero-rating), and stand up for Canadian consumers.

Columnists

AT&T merger with Time Warner would pose major threat to privacy and net neutrality

It has been 140 years since Alexander Graham Bell uttered the first words through his experimental telephone, to his lab assistant: "Mr. Watson -- come here -- I want to see you." His invention transformed human communication, and the world. The company he started grew into a massive monopoly, AT&T. The federal government eventually deemed it too powerful, and broke up the telecom giant in 1982. Well, AT&T is back and some would say on track to become bigger and more powerful than before, announcing plans to acquire Time Warner, the media company, to create one of the largest entertainment and communications conglomerates on the planet.

Tags:

net neutrality internet neutrality Open Internet AT&T big telecom

Comments

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

As EU publishes strong Net Neutrality rules, Canada cannot afford to fall behind

Katy Anderson

| September 2, 2016

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Europe's new Net Neutrality regulations set a positive example for Canada, ahead of crucial hearings by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) about how best to protect a free and open Internet.

Columnists

Quebec's Bill 74 puts us all on a slippery slope toward Internet censorship

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Internet censorship. Website block lists. Stiff financial penalties for Internet providers who allow their customers to view sites forbidden by the government. This may the stuff of day-to-day life in authoritarian regimes, but it's certainly not the sort of thing you'd expect to see here in Canada.

Tags:

net neutrality Open Internet Quebec government Internet censorship Digital Freedom Update Bill 74

Comments

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

U.S. Net Neutrality ruling sends a clear message to the CRTC

Erin Knight

| July 8, 2016

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Open Internet: 1. Slow lanes: 0.

The June 14 decision by the U.S. Federal Appeals Court to uphold Net Neutrality rules is a huge win for Internet users -- and could light a fire under the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

Québec is gambling with Internet censorship: What is Bill 74 and how can we kill it?

Meghan Sali

| July 8, 2016

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

The province of Québec has just accomplished a rare feat: it has everyone, including Internet freedom advocates, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), website operators, and even the federal government shaking their heads in unison.

Columnists

We can finally put an end to data caps -- but will the CRTC listen?

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

"You have used 100% of your monthly data allocation. Additional charges will apply" -- there's probably not an Internet user out there who hasn't grimaced upon receiving a message like this from their telecom provider. Sadly, mean-spirited data caps, accompanied by extortionate overage fees, have long been one of the most reviled features of our broken telecom market.

Tags:

net neutrality internet access big telecom Digital Freedom Update data caps

Comments

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

Watch: Robert McChesney and John Nichols debate 'Who will win the digital revolution?'

Who Will Win the Digital Revolution? features Robert McChesney and John Nichols, talking about their new book People Get Ready: The Fight Against a Jobless Economy and a Citizenless Democracy. McChesney and Nichols are the co-founders of Free Press, a national media-reform organization, and have written extensively on the impact of corporate ownership on our media system. Their new book is a call to action for Net Neutrality and the fight against a ‘“citizen-less” future for our democracy.

Tags:

media democracy media reform net neutrality john nichols open media Robert McChesney

Comments

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

opinion

False positive: TPP net neutrality rules lack enforceability and impact

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Problems? Oh, the Trans-Pacific Partnership has a few! Read about them all in the new series The Trouble with the TPP.

embedded_video

Tags:

net neutrality CRTC internet Trans-Pacific Partnership tpp trouble with the tpp

Comments

Do

Tell the truth and avoid rumours.
Add context and background.
Report typos and logical fallacies.
Be respectful.
Respect copyright - link to articles.
Stay focused. Bring in-depth commentary to our discussion forum, babble.

Don't

Use oppressive/offensive language.
Libel or defame.
Bully or troll.
Post spam.
Engage trolls. Flag suspect activity instead.

net neutrality

Why 2017 will be a make-or-break year for Internet freedom

Comments

Do

Don't

AT&T merger with Time Warner would pose major threat to privacy and net neutrality

Comments

Do

Don't

Quebec's Bill 74 puts us all on a slippery slope toward Internet censorship

Comments

Do

Don't

We can finally put an end to data caps -- but will the CRTC listen?

Comments

Do

Don't

Watch: Robert McChesney and John Nichols debate 'Who will win the digital revolution?'

Comments

Do

Don't

False positive: TPP net neutrality rules lack enforceability and impact

embedded_video

Comments

Do

Don't

rabble.ca in your inbox!

Top Picks On rabble