nl Netherlands passes net neutrality law, first among EU nations

[+Frank B. Subscriber²]

Netherlands passes net neutrality law, first among EU nations

People in the Netherlands have reason to celebrate today, following the expected passing into law of new net neutrality regulation. The legislation in question was agreed upon back in June last year, but it's only on Tuesday that the nation's second legislative chamber gave its blessing to the move, making everything official. Under the new law, mobile internet providers like KPN won't be able to charge for access to particular services like Skype or throttle traffic through them ? both techniques that the company was intent on using to manage its mobile traffic.

Some exceptional reasons, such as network congestion and security, are allowed for slowing down users' connections, but the general thrust of the law is that operators ought to be blind to the traffic they carry and treat all of it equally. Dutch lobbying group Bits of Freedom also notes that the net neutrality law includes anti-wiretapping provisions, making it unlawful to use deep packet inspection on users' internet communications without their express consent or a legal warrant. All in all, it's a good day for privacy and internet freedom in the Netherlands, now how about we spread the good cheer throughout the whole European Union?

Source: The Verge

[Ryster]

Yes please, I'll have some of that here in the UK... :)

[Inklin]

Agreed, the UK needs this law, but I think it's unlikely unless the EU forces it through.

[jakem1]

Agreed, the UK needs this law, but I think it's unlikely unless the EU forces it through.

Exactly what I was going to say :(

[Kerm]

Agreed, bring it on over here.

[Original Poster]

Netherlands is such a good place :( the laws they have over there are rational :( we need to get rid of all the old people in the english parliament and get new hip ones in who understand the internet and privacy

[.Neo]

Great! (Y)

[Kelxin]

Big thumbs up Netherlands, you're making me jealous over in the US as well.

[Hum]

Now we need a Marijuana neutrality law. :shifty:

[cooky560 Veteran]

Agreed, the UK needs this law, but I think it's unlikely unless the EU forces it through.

http://www.richardcook.info/?p=739 the UK seem to be going in the opposite direction :(