Net Neutrality: Economic Based Model versus Rights-Based Model

Abstract

The issue of network neutrality across the globe has been envisaged based mainly on two approaches viz., economic business regulation models and right based models factoring in the rights of privacy and freedom of expression. Internet has become the undisputed vital vehicle for cultural, social and humanitarian functions in a democracy. The high technology routers, vast network infrastructure including optic fibres, high end services like high definition video on demand (VoD), Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) has afforded the network service providers a greater control in providing graded (read differential) network accessibility to customers in the name of providing high quality of service (QoS) as per their demands. This has initiated the vicious cycle of network service providers controlling the content and its accessibility by having differential pricing for different services resulting into infringement of the rights of privacy, freedom of expression and right to freely access the lawful online content. In this essay we would discuss the issues involved in both these approaches.

Keywords: Network Neutrality, Rights of Privacy, Freedom of Expression, Right to Freely Access, Approach to Net Neutrality