Repeal of Net Neutrality Leaves Pornographers Scrambling: Like Shining a Light in a Rat Hole

Fr. Mark Hodges : Dec 18, 2017
Lifesitenews.com

"Net neutrality is the first step in making the US market align with more conservative regimes across the world, not just in terms of porn, but in ideas about sexuality." -Alex Hawkins

(Washington, DC)—[Lifesitenews.com] Pornographers are decrying the Trump administration's rescinding of "net neutrality" rules this week, saying that the move will likely harm their businesses. (Photo: Human trafficking/Shutterstock/via LifeSiteNews)

"This is scary for a number of reasons—among them, the devastating fact that the existence of online pornography is about to get a lot more contentious," wrote Luke Winkie of Men's Health.

"Basically, we're about to live in a world where your internet provider might limit or up-charge your access to pornography," he added.

On Thursday, the Trump Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted 3-2 along party lines to repeal the Obama administration's "net neutrality" that essentially handed control of the internet over to the government.

Trump appointed FCC chairman Ajit Pai said the repeal was about getting the government to "stop micromanaging the internet."

"We are helping consumers and promoting competition," said Pai prior to the vote. "Broadband providers will have more incentive to build networks, especially to underserved areas."

"It is time for the Internet, once again, to be driven by engineers and entrepreneurs and consumers rather than lawyers, accountants and bureaucrats," Pai said.

In 2015, the Obama FCC took over internet regulations on broadband, reclassifying it from a "luxury" to a "utility." The move was to help regulate the internet in a similar way to a telephone service provider or electric company. The government rules prohibited internet service providers (like Verizon, or AT&T) from controlling content access, download speeds, and paywalls. Net neutrality required internet service providers (ISPs) to treat all data the same.

In 2014, Trump described net neutrality as "Obama's attack on the internet," calling it a "top down power grab."

The repeal of net neutrality has pornographers worried. Online pornography businesses ... have vehemently opposed the Trump move because, as a pro-porn Yahoo News article warns, "the loss of net neutrality will likely reshape the entire (pornography) industry."

"Without [net neutrality], the cable and wireless companies that control internet access will have unfair power to pick winners and losers in the market," Corey Price, vice president of...

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