JCOM 2160: Reading Assignment #2

The article on network neutrality was news to me. I hadn’t yet heard anything about the possibility of service providers gaining the ability to charge search engines and other online sources to use their services. Although I think it will hinder technological advances and people’s freedom, I can understand where the service providers are coming from. For example, Google, Yahoo, Vonage, etc. have all developed into multi-billion dollar companies on an “unfettered Internet”. However, Alan Davidson made a point by saying, “If carriers are able to control what consumers do on the Internet, that threatens the model of Internet communications that has been wildly successful." (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/21/AR2006012100094_pf.html) American citizens have also come to view the Internet as an open network where they have rights paralleling that of freedom of speech. Google’s Alan Davidson said that his biggest worry is not about having to pay service providers but, that these fees may prohibit any bright, new innovative ideas from becoming reality. Through reading an article on cnet.com I was also informed that Google keeps a record of every item anyone ever searches via their engine. I don’t have a problem with anyone knowing what I have searched on Google but it does seem unlawfully invasive. However, even though I don’t like the idea of some unknown person having the ability to track my searches I do see the perspective of the Justice Department. I am not opposed to this if it could help law officials find evidence in civil and criminal cases as it aided in the conviction of a North Carolina man when he searched the words- “neck, snap, break, hold”. Having access to Google’s search record provided supporting evidence that led to his conviction in a murder case. My biggest concern is that this could lead to a higher level of invasion- email surveillance, bank tracking, etc.