[pp.int.general] An uneasy feeling

[Daniel Riaño]

The Internet has been enjoying a good deal of liberty, partly because
the ISP providers were (until recently) more interested in widening
their customers' base than in monitoring the information circulating
trough the network. In other words, ISPs have been not content
providers. That was a good thing that contributed to make the Internet
the huge thing it is now.

But all this may be about to change, and there are clear signs that we
may be in the verge on a big, potentially disastrous change for the
free flow of information over the Internet: At least in Spain, the
main copyright-holder lobbies (SGAE and the ilk) are spreading news
that they are closing trade agreements with ISPs, and (they argue)
this new trend in ecommerce was made possible because ISPs are
becoming content providers.

ISPs have already an enormous power, probably too big. But the idea
that they can become not only the providers of the internet service,
but also big players in the information content arena is troubling, to
say the least.

I would like to ask list members if they can provide examples of
actual legislation that prevents ISPs to become content providers in
their countries, and I would also like to ask the Pirate
representatives in Europe if they are preparing some legislation to
prevent precisely this.

Best wishes for the days to come,

Daniel