Internet Censorship – Neutralizing Freedom of Information ?

Jeevan Sarabeswaran Hari

School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore, India

2018

pp. 1-14

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Abstract : The concept of net neutrality has become increasingly trending as a hot topic of discussion since its inception nearly a decade ago. The contours of the article deal with the role played by net neutrality on an international level, distributing its impact uniformly among all nations. This article seeks to provide an in-depth understanding on the idea of net neutrality, and to judge the caliber of its opponent’s feasibility in an advanced, technology-driven society. It also tries to follow the route of adoption of net regulation using the design of a Linchpin theory. The article also provides a comparative analysis on the merits and demerits of net neutrality faced by its primary and most direct party, the general public. The article also contains a dedicated section which tries to recreate the idea of a virtual interface that will come into effect upon the eradication of net neutrality which seeks to provide a lifelike idea of the internet that will be available post net regulation. The focal point of the article emphasizes on the need to withhold net neutrality and to forestall its implementation by critically analyzing the impact of its ideologies on the component of freedom of information and the right to expression on a digital platform. It seeks to further identify the factors that can behave as an obstruction to the freedom of information in the internet. It also substantiates on the factor of restriction by providing real-life, working examples of net neutrality by setting a comparison between the functioning of the media in China to other developed nations of the world. The latent objective of the article is to create a platform of thinking in order to assist in the formulation of a less extreme and more plausible method to govern the internet, without curbing the basic rights of the people.

Keywords : Intellectual Property, International Law, Comparative Law, Fundamental Rights, Internet Law

Mr. Jeevan Hari is a Law student currently pursuing his degree (BBA LLB Hons,) in Christ (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, India. He is currently in his 4 th year of study and is working towards obtaining prominence in the fields of IPR, Criminology and Psychology. The author can be contacted at jeevanhari9@gmail.com.

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