Categories: 
Topics: 
Antonella Napolitano's picture

The Europe roundup: The controversial case of net neutrality

Antonella Napolitano | March 3, 2010 - 3:57am | Email This!
  • Spain | Net Neutrality: a controversy that needs a political intervention?
    In Spain there's lot of talking about Internet business models and the neutrality of the operators that provide the connectivity infrastructure. And things might change quickly, according to what César Alierta, president of the telco Telefónica, declared last month: "Clearly, Internet search engines use our networks without paying anything, which is lucky for them and a curse for us. But that can not continue, we are the networks (...), we do it all. That will change, I believe it”.
    But some public servants don't seem to agree: Juan Carlos Rodríguez Ibarra, former president of the Spanish region of Extremadura, wrote an op-ed on El País, asking the government and politicians to work on the controversial topic.

    In his article, Ibarra compares in the article two opposing views: John McCain, who considers Internet as a product which can be provided by private sector, and Obama, who defends an open and freely internet. Ibarra also talks about the Chinese internet: the main issue about freedom is who should dominate: users or providers?
    “The consequences could be dramatic because few people would make decision to control and guarantee the free access to information and the right to generate information” concludes the politician.

  • EU | New voices in the EU blogosphere?
    Julien Frisch has an interesting list of 20 blogs run by 20 women who work in European institutions, as MEPs, lobbyists and journalists. Different jobs, countries and languages, but there's no doubt that you'll find a new perspectives and ideas. Are there any missing? (I'm honoured to be in this list, thanks Julien)
  • U.K. | Conservatives launch iPhone app for activists and voters
    The Conservative Party has just launched its first iPhone app (available for free download).
    "The app provides snapshot summaries across all key policy areas, news items and a call-a-friend service similar to that promised by Labour, enabling party activists to contact friends from their iPhone address book and track their voting intentions" reports The Next Web. We're now waiting for the Labour Party iPhone app, already announced but not in the store yet.
  • The Netherlands | Design and government in Den Haag (and in Europe)
    Europe in an international context: what part can design play?
    Design Den Haag 2010-2018 is a project whose aim is researching the relation between design and government in Europe within an international context and from different perspectives. Starting this summer, Design Den Haag will collect projects and organize design events in other European capitals to contribute to a better understanding of how creativity can be used in government. Themes are related to cultural diversity, society and identity.

Our readers also like:

Talking Points Memo on distributed review of congressional bills
202 recommended posts
Categories: 
Topics: