Regulating the Internet: the end of the net as we know it?
The Centre and the Instituto de Empresa organises a discussion on issues related to net neutrality, a polymorphic idea that has been at the core of the recent public policy debate on the regulation of the internet. Arguably, the most conflictive aspect of this principle has been the debate around the power that Internet Service Providers should have in order to control and manage the access to the net for their customers. Questions like blocking of access, degradation of service or quality of service are of key importance to issues surrounding freedom of expression, consumer rights, incentives for innovation, business models, and more. Are all bits treated equally over the world’s digital networks? And should they?
An open debate in the United States for a couple of years now, the issue of net neutrality is already on the agenda in some member states and will be an issue for the new European Commission. Should the European Union follow the U.S. approach to the issue? How will the European ICT sector be affected? And how should consumers’ and content owners’ rights be protected ?
These and many other questions will be tackled by our expert panel of speakers. The discussion will bring together stakeholders from the EU Institutions, civil society and business to discuss the future of the net and Europe’s role in (de)regulating it.
This discussion will be moderated by Guillermo Beltrà.